Re: Banter Thread 8.0

[JT33]

The HS/MS where I worked used to have Wood Shop and Metal Shop. Both rooms were beautiful and the quality of the student work was fantastic. Excellent teachers. Unfortunately, as is happening in so many places, the arts and shop classes are being cut. Those classes were cut out many years before I retired (2019). It's a terrible disservice to kids who are kinesthetic learners and need that kind of outlet.

[weatherwatchermom]

Don't know if High School today even bother with Industrial Arts.

The high school I worked at for 12 years has been winding down its industrial arts classes as the teachers retire.  The high school I worked at for 5 years and retired from in fall 2021 had completely dismantled the industrial arts program even before I got there in 2016.  There was nothing at all available to the students in that area.  

These schools want everyone to go to college, which is very sad indeed.

I agree with you! It is sad! our school still has a cad and a cooking class..4 years and my son could not get into either one..lol Thank goodness my husband makes him do things with around the house..most kids won't even be able to change a freaking light bulb. That and sign their name in Script on legal documents.

On a side note I saw this morning that a principal was let go from a school for showing a picture of Michael Angelo's David statue.in an art history class. .to 6 graders. OMG...parents complained it was pornographic.. I have friends who are teachers who just retired and are so happy they got out!! The world has gone mad

[amugs]

Prayers for these people in this area. Massive destruction. It was a nocturnal wedge which is rare from my understanding and is presumed to be at least 1 mile Tornado. At least an EF 4 if not 5 hit.

BREAKING: At least 23 Mississippi residents have been reported dead after a strong tornado struck the towns of Silver City and Rolling Fork last night. Further details of this horrible tragedy below:

- 23 Dead, but dozens are injured or still missing.
- Rolling Fork,… pic.twitter.com/aEnJN5gPlk

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 25, 2023

[amugs]

@ brownie and JT33.
I am and still hold the old Industrail Arts Certification for middle through high school. I maybe one of the last remaining teachers besides a few others, we all went to school together at Montclair in the late 80' into 1991, who hold this certificate and still teach. It is so sad to see these programs being phased out once the teacher retires. These life skills have been looked down upon by many in society for their rugged, dirty, non academia connotations. Yes we did have some "rougher" students but they did great work, were just like most teens but different issues, and enjoyed the classes. I taught woods in JC School 14 K-8 in 1992-93 and made huge bonds with my students, then I moved up to where I am presently at NH. I still get flack over my old school methods of teaching hand drafting BUT ALL of my students will say how much they appreciated learning this skill and how it helped them in life. The utopia of education. It started from the top with politicians and state educational elites who were against these classes and with Saul Coopermen then State Commissioner of Ed in the late 80's through early 1990's put a massive kibosh on these courses by instilling the state graduation requirements because we "were falling behind Japan and other countries". So these kids HAD to take 4 years of math, English, history, phys ed, and 2 years of languages. These IA kids hated this, and still this day they'd rather be in my class doing hands on projects, listening to Q104.3, and partaking in the pantry I set up for them then sitting through 57 minutes of math calculations and science theories or a foreign language that IS FOREIGN to them and they'll never use. 
Sorry hear folks but being in these trenches for 31 years teaching in Paterson, Jersey City, and now Allendale as well as being part of local and state committees looking at this we have done a massive disservice to our children in their education. It is just by the state standards cookie cutter,  innovation thwarted education and its not getting any better. They want us for every unit we teach to include LGBTQ plus lessons, climate change, CRT, feelings and emotions. These mandates are far to many to implement besides the material you have to teach. 
I have many a student who have gone on to become electricians, plumbers, tradesmen, construction, landscaping, and they are loving life. I always say we need them, they don't need us. If you think not we'll good luck if and when you have an issue.
I always tell them I am PROUD of them and to have had the God given opportunity to teach them. And they almost all say back.....likewise.
Anyone know how much $$$ it would take after a such class has been dismantled to bring it back?? About $2 -2500k. Problem being as well colleges do not have, they phased out this certification as well. Only one area college I kmow of ...Millersville PA has such a degree anymore and they graduated 8 people last year!!! Sad but better learn some skills cause they aren't going to be many left to help or you'll be paying 2x as much as you are now.

[amugs]

And to those retired teacher, THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU, and enjoy the fruits of life now!! You deserve it.

[essexcountypete]

Great story in the NYTimes about research into lightning. They used a camera that takes 40,000 frames a second to capture lightning strikes, and came to find that as the negatively charged bolts of lightning are coming down, small bolts of electricity that are positively charged are moving upwards to meeting them.

It's behind a paywall, but here's the story...
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/science/lightning-rod-video.html

[essexcountypete]

Over emphasis on standardized tests, and the linking of test scores to funding, has really done a number on those areas of education not being tested. Fine Arts, Industrial Arts, and Music programs have all suffered for it. If competence in handling a hammer and a nail, a saw, or a drill, were part of the original Common Core, we'd have seen more focus on those topics and more funding for IA. My teacher friends repeat often that, in the age of standardized testing, what doesn't get tested, doesn't get taught.

Ironically, there seems to be more of a push lately to get students into the trades. Parents, students and counselors are talking more now about trade school options for graduating students than they were a few years ago when my daughter graduated. My son is a senior and his grades have gotten him accepted into a number of good schools, but he was definitely given information about trade schools along with the standard college information from his counselor. He seriously considered going to trade school to become an electrician, and he may still do that after college. My recollection from the past is that trades were encouraged more for students that may not do as well academically, but now academically successful students are considering the trades more often as career options. The view that trades are for those who can't "hack it" in a "real job" is changing, and people recognize that trade skills are in demand and jobs in those trades pay better than they used to.

How we get more kids into trades without providing more opportunities for education in those trades at grade level is a complete disconnect. We will need greater efforts at the HS level to better prepare the kids who are considering trade school with some of the skills needed for those jobs.

[docstox12]

Great points you make Pete.
Bergen County has Bergen Tech, but that is for kids who already know they want to enter a trade.You make a good point in kids not being exposed much to trades so how can they make a decision?
Electrical work is a great trade, I learned a lot from my Dad . an IBEW 3 electrician, so I have been able to do a lot of electrical work through the years.A lot of people my age, 70's, had Dad's who could do it all as they were raised in the Depression and if you wanted something, you made it yourself.My Dad did 80% of the building of the house we lived in Fort Lee.I learned plumbing, electrical, masonry, carpentry, tiling and auto repair ( engine rebuilding and parts replacements), and TV repair, where I tested the tubes,LOL.A kid today is VERY lucky to have a Dad who can expose them to all of the trades.We grew up in the 1950's and 1960's not having much materially like today, but working with my Dad on projects was the best.

[essexcountypete]

True that Doc. Skills learned out of necessity during the hard times of the depression made for a whole generation of people who were self sufficient and self reliant. And those skills were passed down to that next generation, as you said. My folks were depression era. Dad passed 30 years ago, but he was born in 1919, and my mom, still with us, was born in 1932. Dad was an engineer and a tinkerer, so while I only know enough about plumbing and electrical to be dangerous, I can fix all sorts of things because dad could, or at least gave it a try. Good memories, indeed.

Sadly, that depression era mentality that you have to save everything, and you shouldn't just throw away "useful" things, means my parent's house is still full of old stuff that I now have to throw away or re-home.

[docstox12]

True that Doc. Skills learned out of necessity during the hard times of the depression made for a whole generation of people who were self sufficient and self reliant. And those skills were passed down to that next generation, as you said. My folks were depression era. Dad passed 30 years ago, but he was born in 1919, and my mom, still with us, was born in 1932. Dad was an engineer and a tinkerer, so while I only know enough about plumbing and electrical to be dangerous, I can fix all sorts of things because dad could, or at least gave it a try. Good memories, indeed.

Sadly, that depression era mentality that you have to save everything, and you shouldn't just throw away "useful" things, means my parent's house is still full of old stuff that I now have to throw away or re-home.  

Pete, so glad you still have your Mom.Mine passed in 2021 at age 100.She told me of when her Dad took her to the first talkie movie "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, Lindie's flight to Paris and the Pearl Harbor attack coming over the radio during Sunday dinner after church at her Mom's house.Bet your Mom remembers that day too.Not only did we get great skills passed down to us, but living memories of history as well.
We were taught to use it until you could not fix it anymore,only buy what you have in your pocket in cash,get out and stay out of debt.
Good luck with the old stuff.My Dad was the same,LOL.

[dkodgis]

Doc, I thought everyone grew up with a drill press in the basement and a set of Shakespeare.

[docstox12]

Doc, I thought everyone grew up with a drill press in the basement and a set of Shakespeare.

LOL, Damian, a true Renaissance Man you are there.Had the drill press but only a cheap encyclopedia and a few small Golden Books on stars, weather, mammals etc.

[weatherwatchermom]

Over emphasis on standardized tests, and the linking of test scores to funding, has really done a number on those areas of education not being tested. Fine Arts, Industrial Arts, and Music programs have all suffered for it. If competence in handling a hammer and a nail, a saw, or a drill, were part of the original Common Core, we'd have seen more focus on those topics and more funding for IA. My teacher friends repeat often that, in the age of standardized testing, what doesn't get tested, doesn't get taught.

Ironically, there seems to be more of a push lately to get students into the trades. Parents, students and counselors are talking more now about trade school options for graduating students than they were a few years ago when my daughter graduated. My son is a senior and his grades have gotten him accepted into a number of good schools, but he was definitely given information about trade schools along with the standard college information from his counselor. He seriously considered going to trade school to become an electrician, and he may still do that after college. My recollection from the past is that trades were encouraged more for students that may not do as well academically, but now academically successful students are considering the trades more often as career options. The view that trades are for those who can't "hack it" in a "real job" is changing, and people recognize that trade skills are in demand and jobs in those trades pay better than they used to.

How we get more kids into trades without providing more opportunities for education in those trades at grade level is a complete disconnect. We will need greater efforts at the HS level to better prepare the kids who are considering trade school with some of the skills needed for those jobs.

Congratulations and good luck to your son! And to you and your wife for making it thru this process(a second time)..lol. Today is the last day for us! I totally agree with everything you said and it is a shame. There are many paths to take and unfortunately many are pushed down the wrong one. And yes, there is more chatter about the trades and not going to college, but the high schools  are not well rounded anymore for these kids to have a taste of the trades(kids think that being in the trades is being an influencer.. )..unless you commit to vocational school. It is a shame. My sister was saying yesterday that my niece is changing her major(Chem) and going to study to become a sonographer. My bil is a doctor and says they are in such great need of them in hospitals. I am so happy that she realized that the first path she took is not for her! Even though she was doing great, she was miserable.  As my husband says the pendulum swings one way and has to swing back...I just wish all of our kids luck and happiness in anything they choose in this path of life!

[amugs]

Gents the mindset is slowly changing but you know its the tail wagging the dog. We have too many policies in place that are blocking a bigger push and it is a societal, political, and educational issue as it's been. It is more about political issues today in education, they teach theems in history know that intertwines dates and is not in a chronological order. One of our younger teachers is basically leaving afer 5 years due to the responsibilities that are expected with tests, curriculum, educational standards to be meet, revamping, rewriting curricula every few years, parent issues over grades but assignments adn what is being taught and said in the classroom - yuo say orange the kid thinks green and yuo get a call or email about it. Its really uneasy even takling at lunch, the emotuonal charge over political issues that are now educational issues over events are just incredible.

Now look at this: I'd say geoengineering may have a hand in such as they've been doing this for decades staring back in the 50's as a DOD project.

More wild scenes out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains yesterday...#CAwx pic.twitter.com/0pKYcYQImp

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 30, 2023

[dkodgis]

There are some passes in CA thare are simply closed for the season because forget about it.

[docstox12]

Over emphasis on standardized tests, and the linking of test scores to funding, has really done a number on those areas of education not being tested. Fine Arts, Industrial Arts, and Music programs have all suffered for it. If competence in handling a hammer and a nail, a saw, or a drill, were part of the original Common Core, we'd have seen more focus on those topics and more funding for IA. My teacher friends repeat often that, in the age of standardized testing, what doesn't get tested, doesn't get taught.

Ironically, there seems to be more of a push lately to get students into the trades. Parents, students and counselors are talking more now about trade school options for graduating students than they were a few years ago when my daughter graduated. My son is a senior and his grades have gotten him accepted into a number of good schools, but he was definitely given information about trade schools along with the standard college information from his counselor. He seriously considered going to trade school to become an electrician, and he may still do that after college. My recollection from the past is that trades were encouraged more for students that may not do as well academically, but now academically successful students are considering the trades more often as career options. The view that trades are for those who can't "hack it" in a "real job" is changing, and people recognize that trade skills are in demand and jobs in those trades pay better than they used to.

How we get more kids into trades without providing more opportunities for education in those trades at grade level is a complete disconnect. We will need greater efforts at the HS level to better prepare the kids who are considering trade school with some of the skills needed for those jobs.

Congratulations and good luck to your son! And to you and your wife for making it thru this process(a second time)..lol. Today is the last day for us! I totally agree with everything you said and it is a shame. There are many paths to take and unfortunately many are pushed down the wrong one. And yes, there is more chatter about the trades and not going to college, but the high schools  are not well rounded anymore for these kids to have a taste of the trades(kids think that being in the trades is being an influencer.. )..unless you commit to vocational school. It is a shame. My sister was saying yesterday that my niece is changing her major(Chem) and going to study to become a sonographer. My bil is a doctor and says they are in such great need of them in hospitals. I am so happy that she realized that the first path she took is not for her! Even though she was doing great, she was miserable.  As my husband says the pendulum swings one way and has to swing back...I just wish all of our kids luck and happiness in anything they choose in this path of life!

Mom, I assume sonography is working with ultasound.That is a great occupation for sure, you serve the public helping with health care issues and it is a painless process.

I started out hoping to be an Electrical Engineer and went one year to Stevens Tech in Hoboken.I found it very diffcult, studied 6 hours a night to only maintain a C plus average.I switched to the Biological Sciences and eventually went to Dental School at FDU in Hackensack starting in 1972.The college process exposes a youngster to different fields and switching majors is good if they are happier.

[docstox12]

Gents the mindset is slowly changing but you know its the tail wagging the dog. We have too many policies in place that are blocking a bigger push and it is a societal, political, and educational issue as it's been. It is more about political issues today in education, they teach theems in history know that intertwines dates and is not in a chronological order. One of our younger teachers is basically leaving afer 5 years due to the responsibilities that are expected with tests, curriculum, educational standards to be meet, revamping, rewriting curricula every few years, parent issues over grades but assignments adn what is being taught and said in the classroom - yuo say orange the kid thinks green and yuo get a call or email about it. Its really uneasy even takling at lunch, the emotuonal charge over political issues that are now educational issues over events are just incredible.

Now look at this: I'd say geoengineering may have a hand in such as they've been doing this for decades staring back in the 50's as a DOD project.

More wild scenes out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains yesterday...#CAwx pic.twitter.com/0pKYcYQImp

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 30, 2023

Being an educator like yourself,Mugs, is no easy occupation.I had a brief introduction to that in the late 1970s-early 1980's when I was invited into the grade schools in Ramsey in February for Dental Health Week to demonstrate Dental Care to the youngsters.You have got to be talented to maintain the attention of young kids or you lose them within 5 minutes,LOL.Can't imagine what it is like today with all the stuff going on.
Back in the day, 1956 to 1969 when I attended grade through High School, politics were never mentioned .Much easier and friendlier times for sure.

[dkodgis]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/15/us/tulare-lake-california-flood-climate/index.html

As CP noted in a pst, snow melting =flooding of biblical proportions

[dkodgis]

Has anyone noticed the stories on antarctic ice melting? Ice is running out the door!

I read estimates that say the Artic sea will be ice-free in ten years. And what about those temperatures in Asia? As this article says https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2023/04/19/asia-heat-wave-worst-ever-recorded-april-climate-change/11697652002/

"...like none before."

[amugs]

Has anyone noticed the stories on Antarctic ice melting? Ice is running out the door!

I read estimates that say the Artic sea will be ice-free in ten years. And what about those temperatures in Asia? As this article says https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2023/04/19/asia-heat-wave-worst-ever-recorded-april-climate-change/11697652002/

"...like none before."

I DO NOT trust these shamans on climate. How about the cold wave in China in Feb and March?? Or the Mega West Coast Snows? Middle East extreme cold n snow this winter? Let not ta;lk about that. All about the $$, the transfer of wealth continues.

FROM NOAA charts





From October I know but the points he makes scientifically are tried and true.



This site is amazing for pointing all weather extremes out! If you'll notice his article are more about cold n snow effecting our planet then warmth.
https://electroverse.co/

Lastly Kamchatka Volcano aka Shiveluch Explosion 2 weeks ago ws a VEI 4 if not 5 (52K high was the cloud) massive amounts of Sulfur Dioxide and ash up into the stratosphere and was 60 degrees N up into the arctic. Lets see what effects this will have on our pattern this summer. Ash made its way all the way to Washington state and Idaho!!!

[amugs]

CHINA BREAKS 241 LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS IN 24HRS; RECORD COLD HITS THE BAIKAL; WINTER RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA; + MINOR CME SPARKS SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM

Once again, the intensity of the solar storm surprised both NASA and NOAA. #WaningMagneticFieldhttps://t.co/ErF4PNSsDr

— Electroverse (@Electroversenet) April 24, 2023

[sroc4]

Has anyone noticed the stories on antarctic ice melting? Ice is running out the door!

I read estimates that say the Artic sea will be ice-free in ten years. And what about those temperatures in Asia? As this article says https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2023/04/19/asia-heat-wave-worst-ever-recorded-april-climate-change/11697652002/

"...like none before."

Hey Damian I hope all is well my friend!  Now more than ever you do have to be really really careful how much stock you put into some of these articles about the climate.  Its so easy for people to write an article based on opinion that furthers a specific narrative(ie: man made global warming) catering to a specific group and ideology.  Sensationalism to get clicks and traffic to their sites etc. has been a problem in our society since the turn of the century.  Regarding Antarctic sea ice like anything in todays world there is nuance that needs to be considered.  Unfortunately there isnt alot of the nuance allowed to be discussed in the forefront because it goes directly against the global narrative.  

Recall Al Gore back in the late 90's time frame.  He was claiming the Arctic could be free of ice in a decade or so.  Well fast forward a quarter century and there is still plenty of sea ice and its not going to disappear any time soon.  The claims about the Antarctic are no different here no matter what your reading IMHO.  Propaganda, Yellow Journalism is real and rampant in todays society.  Just look at the Covid stuff as a prime example.  

There is some really interesting information out there regarding both subsurface volcanism as well as the sub terranean vulcanism that is occurring on and around the Antarctic continent.  Most people dont actuially realize just how active of a region that area is.  
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/antarctica/

Interestingly, NASA scientists have found that climate change has actually caused more ice to form in some parts of Antarctica. They say this is happening because of new climate patterns caused by climate change. These patterns create a strong wind pattern called the "polar vortex." Polar vortex winds lower temperatures in the Antarctic and have been building in strength in recent decades—as much as 15 percent since 1980. This effect is not seen throughout the Antarctic, however, and some parts are experiencing ice melt.






https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glacial-geology/antarctic-ice-sheet/icesheet_evolution/

https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glacial-geology/antarctic-ice-sheet/subglacial-volcanoes/
"Antarctic ice melt will very soon be a self perpetuating volcanic reaction
The plates are relatively “soft” at the poles.
As trillions of tons of weight from ice melt comes off the glaciers grounding points, the soft plates will continue moving more and more radically creating new volcanic fissures at grounding points.

This in turn creates more disturbance and heat which accelerates the melting and the cycle continues until the cycle levels out.
Long after seas have risen and done their damage


To reiterate, Yellow Journalism compliments of the current Czars in charge of this country, is here to stay so long as there are billions to be made pushing the very specific narrative of man made climate change warrants these very specific policies.  Again just look at the propaganda pushed early on in the pandemic.  Things that you were not allowed to say that turned out true AND the exact opposite was touted as the only truth:  Lab leak origin.  Natural immunity was stronger that vaccine alone.  The young and healthy are not nearly as susceptible to the severe effects of the virus as the old and immunocompromised.  mRNA Vaccines have significant side effects esp in the young male between 12-21yrs old.  The vaccine DOES NOT prevent you from getting Covid, NOR stop you from spreading it should you get it.  There were record breaking profits made on the Covid pandemic by big pharma and Govt. Bureaucrats across the globe.  

This should at least cause us to pause when someone in the government or funded by the government tells us that there is only one explanation for a very complex multifactorial problem.  And even more reason to pause when you're not even allowed to question that explanation or discuss other possible explanations.  


https://phys.org/news/2023-04-radar-satellite-reveals-previously-unknown.html

Headline:19000 undersea volcanoes not known discovered

But let's do a critique of this

A team of oceanographers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, working with a colleague from Chungnam National University and another from the University of Hawaii, has mapped 19,000 previously unknown undersea volcanoes in the world's oceans using radar satellite data. In their paper published in the journal Earth and Space Science, the group describes how they used radar satellite data to measure seawater mounding to find and map undersea volcanoes and explains why it is important that it be done.

MY COMMENT: This is precisely my argument based on SSTs. that was essentially steady state from the 50s to the early 90s, but have come up in the age of increased activity

JB


Bottom line is its at least plausible to discuss mechanisms that contribute in ways that we are just starting to understand.  Ie: the Sun, and sea surface temps, and underwater volcanism.

[sroc4]

Fun fact of the day.  Here is a site showing global volcano activity.  

https://volcano.si.edu/faq/index.cfm?question=eruptionsbyyear

Between the years of 1977-1999(22yrs) there were an average of 15 VEI 4 or higher eruptions across the planet.  The next 22yrs between 2000-2022 there were on average 27 VEI 4 or higher eruptions globally.    

Total eruptions between 1977-1999 averaged 63.3 per year globally, and between 2000-2022 the average is 78.6  eruptions per year globally.  

I think its pretty clear there has been an significant uptick in both strong volcanic eruptions and total volcanic activity.  These are terrestrial volcanoes mind you.  With that in mind armed with the information above "there are 19000 newly discovered underwater volcanoes on top of what is already known, if the volcanic activity is increasing above sea level chances are there is increased activity to the submarine volcanoes as well.  Changes in submarine SST's means changes to ocean currents over time.  

This has to be part of the discussion as these processes are ones that can have major global impacts on a short time scale as well as on decades or more time scale.   I haven't mentioned it yet but increased seismic activity is also prevalent as well which goes hand in hand with increased volcanic activity.  Combined with a period of increased sun spot and solar flares and CME's over the past 100 years there is a lot more to be at the very least be discussed.  There is plausibility here, and to say the science is settled is ignorant and naïve.  Science is never settled.  Man can def do better to reduce green house gas emissions, but we need to realize there is more to discuss.  

Man if your actually still on the forum and you've read this far bravo!!  Its just one mans soap box regarding a topic he is passionate about.  Times like these it feels like Im speaking to an empty room.  lol  

[amugs]

This BODES well for the upcoming winter statistically speaking. I would refer to Mikey aka Math 23x7 here for such.

The combination of a negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Nino conditions results in a 30 percent increase in winter snowfall across the Mid-Atlantic per NOAA research. Note the Blocking High over IVO Greenland. pic.twitter.com/MBWFopnG6U

— Spot On Weather (@eulermatthew4) April 26, 2023

[amugs]

Anyone see any of this information on Electrical Fires? And the plane engine that caught fire due to.... electrical issues? Why did these all happen? The Sun Sun Mr. Golden Sun who controls OUR PLANET AND US. 100 million x greater than our beautiful spaceship rock that is floating in an elliptical orbit on space is managed by this beautiful star.

Ben Davidson


DuBuyne


Our Magnetosphere is waning and NOAA will not give us an update on how much % we have lost. The last update was 2015 - projection at this time are that we are down 22% and accelerating more like 25%.

Explained here by Davidson:

[amugs]

@SROC - as always very informative and phenomonal write up

I was just going to post that article that I read yesterday, and I do not know if you saw this as well but last summer there was an article about the hoopla of the warmest summer readings from the previous summer in Antarctica that broke a record.

It was at its most northerly point and on top of an active underwater volcanoes that was percolating at that time. Called a natural cycle.

The Hype: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/weather/antarctica-world-record-high-temperature-anomaly-climate/index.html

Buckle Up peeps the weather events are getting more extreme and will so as we move thorugh this Magnetic Pole Shift, Grand Solar Minimum Cycle and Global Unrest.

[dkodgis]

Scott, I am an intuitive guy. I thought volcanic activity was increasing based on what I saw in the news over the last year or so but I read popular not scientific/academic sources that said there was no real volcanic activity, that everything was normal and no more than statistically so. I do not have an audience so I am not arguing anything but I do know vetted evidence in the form of peer-reviewed articles have more gravitas, weight, and authority than my intuition. I read popular sources because I hit some websites for news and that is what is on them. Popular sources are good for reaching the people, and they are written at a grade level low enough so I can understand them. These are a good place to get acquainted with ideas, concepts, vocabulary around a topic but not good for basing arguments on. Body paragraphs write themselves where there is vetted, cited scholarly content plus further development/synthesis by a writer to create an argument, one body paragraph per argument. If it sounds like I teach research writing, I do. My students are BA/BS students who take my course to learn how to write a research paper. I enjoy it. I think I am good at it. I just post some popular articles to get beats out of the board.

I know popular sources reach people (Latin: populus=people) but do not contribute to an existing body of knowledge, nor is popular content peer-reviewed by experts in a field. The authors of popular articles are maybe known by name but often, no specific contact information is provided, no work history nor educational background is provided, and popular articles are an ocean of conversation, not colloquy, six inches deep-much like the internet.

To wit on another topic, I use lots of videos from Youtube to teach Italian. I speak Italian, Spanish, French. I have degrees in them. I teach these days online because that is what old folks do. We teach from home. The lockdown enhanced our patina. This person is a native speaker of Italian but his degrees are in science. I find his language videos most helpful but I do like it when he takes on popular science and does not rock the boat. Rather he flips it over. I like his style. You may be interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbB7AhwaZy8

and here is one of his Italian videos.

In general, I am a sheep among the wolves of popular science. However, I enjoy your posts and those of Mugzicito. Very informative and please keep on doing what you are doing. Doc, I do not know if you speak Italian but the guy's Italian videos are great. You will surprise your wife with "Buongiorno. Posso avere un cafe'? You will get points.

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