Philly.com Commenters On…

Oh, yes, this should give me enough material to last the rest of the week.

Do you believe in global warming? [Philly.com]

Pope Tells People To Avoid Dogma With Straight Face

Noted scientist Pope Benedict XVI plans to issue a statement condemning “climate change prophets of doom,” reports some British paper.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology. The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.

The Pope, who it should be noted will die before the polar ice caps melt anyway, is announcing these remarks on World Peace Day.

Free Philly Concert To be Held At Giants Stadium

Remember Live Earth? That was the concert scheduled to be at RFK Stadium JFK Stadium Lincoln Financial Field on July 7.

Well, apparently, that was a lie. Because the free concert to be held in Philadelphia for global warming is in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It’s actually a bit more appropriate, since the factories around the Meadowlands are probably responsible for at least 100% of the earth’s global warming.

“Capping Live Earth with a blockbuster show like this will ensure we meet our challenge of building a mass audience to combat global warming,” Live Earth founder and executive producer Kevin Wall said in a statement. “Live Earth will be a monumental event both in terms of entertainment and in turning the tide against global warming.”

Yes, the concert is going to turn the tide against global warming. It’s just not going to happen in Philadelphia, unfortunately. Oh, well. There’s only two other Police concerts that month in Pennsylvania!

Update: We’re not totally left out! There’s a global warming conference in Philadelphia tomorrow.

Bon Jovi, The Police among artists in Live Earth concert [AP/Philly.com]
March 28: Al Gore To Play Philly, Antarctica

Weekend Weather Guy Not Convinced Of Something

David Aldrich, the guy who does the weather on the weekend on Fox 29, is not convinced of global warming and he wants you to know the truth (or, rather, “expose you to the multiple sides of this argument”):

I am a global warming skeptic. This does not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. If you have had doubts, you have come to the right place.

After the 13th COLDEST February in Philadelphia and the coldest since 1979, many are scratching their heads on what to believe when it comes to global warming.

We are also off to an “extremely cold” April as well with one of the coldest Easters in recent memory.

Hey, buddy, I must have missed the part where you’re a climatologist and not a meteorologist. We don’t have Dorothy Krysiuk report on the fuel efficiency of the Hummer vs. the Prius, she just tells us the traffic. We don’t have Jennaphr Frederick report on the history of the mascot, she just dances with ‘em. Do you see me reporting on the history of the migration of the Sherpa? No, I just make bad jokes instead.

Just read the weather, sheep. Baa! Milton Street sure is goofy!

Global Warming Skeptic [MyFoxPhilly]

Chase Utley To Hit Doubles, Cut Emissions

The Oscar for Best Documentary wasn’t the only thing Al Gore picked up for An Inconvenient Truth. No, it’s also picked up the endorsement of one Phillies second baseman Chase Utley!

Yes, that’s right. Utley doesn’t just eat at Morning Glory and score from second on a groundout, he also wants to cut his own emissions and help stop global warming. Indeed! Perhaps based on the fact Jon Lieber has a truck that gets 12 miles to the gallon and has melted six polar ice caps itself, Utley plans on buying a hybrid car and show Lieber and Aaron Rowand (who has a similar humongous car) the movie.

He’s also signed the petition on stopglobalwarming.org:

I’m marching because I know how important it is for all of us to face the reality of global warming. It’s real, it’s a danger and it threatens the well-being of all of us. I love America but I don’t love how wasteful we are. With five percent of the world’s population, we consume twenty-five percent of the planet’s energy. We need to address global warming in a serious and meaningful way. All of us, not just those of us marching, need to take steps NOW to conserve. We need to think outside the corporate box on this - to solar, wind power, hybrids. We need a major shift in our mindset on what makes up the American dream. It’s not two SUV’s in every garage, it’s creating a good and sustainable life for all of us for generations to come. For me, doing so will start with the very first step I take on this march. This is only the beginning.

Awesome. I look forward to fluorescent light bulbs in the Phillies locker room this year.

Marcher: Chase Utley [SGW]
Utley fights for the environment [Phillies.com, 2nd item]
‘Truth’ generates Oscar win [Camden Courier-Post]
Feb. 15: Jon Lieber’s Truck

Punxsutawney Phil Reads Report, Doesn’t See Shadow

Wow, who woulda thunk it? Wing Bowl and Groundhog Day on the same day! I’m surprised that when these two events were going on at the same time the world didn’t explode in some sort of God-channeled rage: “This is what you idiots care about?! Do you know how much fun sex is?”

Anyway, after we spent the majority of our winter running through the streets in shorts and t-shirts, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow today and predicted an early spring! And why not? Today was the same day scientists issued a report saying global warming was man-made and likely to continue. (Phil probably read that report when he woke up.)

But, hey, by the time the polar ice caps melt and the Jersey shore is now in Cherry Hill, we’ll all be dead and gone! (This is President Bush’s take on it, I think.) So let’s enjoy our 80 degree weather in (hopefully) March and then worry about global warming later. Now let’s do the “Pennsylvania Polka.”

Editor’s Note: Okay, okay, I’m done.

Bucking a trend, Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see shadow [AP/CNN.com]
Global warming man-made, will continue [AP/Philly.com]
Photo via Reuters/Yahoo!

Punxsutawney Phil Reads Report, Doesn’t See Shadow

Wow, who woulda thunk it? Wing Bowl and Groundhog Day on the same day! I’m surprised that when these two events were going on at the same time the world didn’t explode in some sort of God-channeled rage: “This is what you idiots care about?! Do you know how much fun sex is?”

Anyway, after we spent the majority of our winter running through the streets in shorts and t-shirts, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow today and predicted an early spring! And why not? Today was the same day scientists issued a report saying global warming was man-made and likely to continue. (Phil probably read that report when he woke up.)

But, hey, by the time the polar ice caps melt and the Jersey shore is now in Cherry Hill, we’ll all be dead and gone! (This is President Bush’s take on it, I think.) So let’s enjoy our 80 degree weather in (hopefully) March and then worry about global warming later. Now let’s do the “Pennsylvania Polka.”

Bucking a trend, Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see shadow [AP/CNN.com]
Global warming man-made, will continue [AP/Philly.com]
Photo via Reuters/Yahoo!

Punxsutawney Phil Reads Report, Doesn’t See Shadow

Wow, who woulda thunk it? Wing Bowl and Groundhog Day on the same day! I’m surprised that when these two events were going on at the same time the world didn’t explode in some sort of God-channeled rage: “This is what you idiots care about?! Do you know how much fun sex is?”

Anyway, after we spent the majority of our winter running through the streets in shorts and t-shirts, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow today and predicted an early spring! And why not? Today was the same day scientists issued a report saying global warming was man-made and likely to continue. (Phil probably read that report when he woke up.)

But, hey, by the time the polar ice caps melt and the Jersey shore is now in Cherry Hill, we’ll all be dead and gone! (This is President Bush’s take on it, I think.) So let’s enjoy our 80 degree weather in (hopefully) March and then worry about global warming later. Now let’s do the “Pennsylvania Polka.”

Bucking a trend, Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see shadow [AP/CNN.com]
Global warming man-made, will continue [AP/Philly.com]
Photo via Reuters/Yahoo!

Quickies: 500 Rummy

• Ooh, the debate thickens. Is the church near the proposed Scores strip club within 500 feet of a church? They can’t put it there if it is; but “[s]ome say 517 feet; some say 497 feet. ” Stay tuned! [Daily News]

• While I’m not quite at the-sky-is-falling level that Salon is, I did like this article detailing why weathermen don’t talk about global warming. Surprise, it’s bad for ratings! [Salon]

• When Philadelphia police officers need a gun, they go to Bucks County and try to purchase one with a fake name. Oh, come on, he was only buying his second handgun in a month! [Bucks County Courier Times]

• And, hey, a congressman in Texas resigned, and the liberals on the Internet go nuts. [MyDD]

Quickies: 101 Dalmations

• Pennsylvania Clean Sweep now has 101 candidates running for election against Pennsylvania state legislators. Coming in November: 101 losing candidates for PA Clean Sweep. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• Guess what the contrarian broadsheet — my former employer, &c. &c. — in this town has run an op-ed piece on: Global warming isn’t real! Really, really, I’m shocked that the conservative paper in town would run a column that says that. What’s next? “Teach the controversy” on evolution? Bingo! [The Evening Bulletin]

• In the interest of fairness: The climate is crashing and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon — and what we can do about it. I don’t think I’m all that nervous — I’ve stocked up on sunscreen — but it’s a good read nonetheless. [Time Magazine via Attytood]

• And two senators lied before the Supreme Court? Again, recent events cannot shock me any more. [Slate]