Originally a comment by James Garnett on Triple threat.

I’m not a climate scientist, but my professional work is in control theoretic modeling of real, nonlinear systems. It’s difficult to underscore just how frightening a positive feedback runaway can be; the results are catastrophic for the system in question, even for small things. For example, induction motors form the basis of modern processing engineering, so their function and use are taught in most electrical engineering programs. One aspect of these motors is that when they are running, if one opens the field circuit while the driving circuit is still energized, the torque of the rotor becomes infinite (in theory), because the field acts as a negative feedback control mechanism. … Read the rest

More on permafrost:

Thawing Arctic permafrost laden with billions of tons of greenhouse gases [threatens not only] the region’s critical infrastructure but life across the planet, according [to] a comprehensive scientific review.

Nearly 70% of the roads, pipelines, cities and industry — mostly in Russia — built on the region’s softening ground are highly vulnerable to acute damage by mid-century, according to one of half-a-dozen studies on permafrost published this week by Nature.

Another study warns that methane and CO2 escaping from long-frozen soil could accelerate warming and overwhelm global efforts to cap the rise in Earth’s temperature at livable levels.

Exposure of highly combustible organic matter no longer locked away by ice is also fueling unprecedented wildfires, making

… Read the rest

Still pretending it’s not just Jo and his ego.

Thanks for all the lovely feedback on this thread. We remain who we always were. We immediately put our hands up when we get stuff wrong. The trick is to identify those in whose eyes we will always be wrong. And to remember that when you read their unsurprising assessment. https://t.co/R1r32Om6DG

— Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) February 17, 2022

Seriously, who is this “we”? Why does he keep pretending when there is no “we” in evidence? If it’s a “we” why does no one else ever speak up as part of the “we”? Why is not a single name other than Jolyon’s ever mentioned? How is he getting away with this absurd … Read the rest

But what are trans rights?

I think what the Chair of the so-called ECHR is saying here is that all cis women feel like she (plainly) does about trans women. Of course, that's nonsense – the data shows women are more supportive of trans rights than men. But it's extraordinary that it has come from her! pic.twitter.com/y6U9SVW1lD

— Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) February 16, 2022

What trans rights are women more supportive of?

He probably means some leading question version, as in “Do you support trans rights?”, as opposed to an actual specific spelled-out claimed right such as “the right for men to be treated as women in all settings and circumstances because that’s how they identify.” I think when people … Read the rest

I’m beginning to think Our Jolyon isn’t as widely or intensely admired as he would have us believe.

The decision itself has been peddled as involving a finding that Dido Harding's appointment was unlawful. Such a portrayal is inaccurate. The Court found that there had been breaches of the PSED in the process by which Harding was appointed, but 2/ pic.twitter.com/z6wPxSKzVq

— David Turner (@GreatStrides65) February 15, 2022

Oops. As close to an admission as @jolyonmaugham is likely to make that @GoodLawProject's spinning of today's judgment has simply ignored the result pic.twitter.com/MvjmcfFYh1

— David Turner (@GreatStrides65) February 15, 2022

Who is “our”? Jolyon & his invisible friend?… Read the rest

The editor-in-chief of Swimming World doesn’t mince words:

Must give credit to the Ivy League. It didn’t hide its position. From the early days of the Lia Thomas debate, the conference made it clear that it would wholly support one swimmer over hundreds of athletes. It made it clear that Thomas was a priority. It made it clear that its female athletes – specifically its swimmers – were inconsequential.

One male swimmer over hundreds of female athletes. It could be thousands or billions, it would make no difference. The man and his idenniny must have priority.

The Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin Wednesday at Harvard University and Penn’s Thomas – according to the psych sheets –

… Read the rest

A Hooters in Liverpool – Julie Bindel is not impressed.

The all-female waiting staff are required to wear extremely skimpy shorts, tight, low-cut T-shirts, and tights. When a birthday or stag crowd are in, which is most nights, coins are tossed for which of the waitresses take part in the odd wet T-shirt competition, to keep the crowds entertained. The restaurant is, of course, aimed at large groups of heavy-drinking men and, on occasion, customers will be offered half-price entry into the nearest lap-dancing club for afters.

Kind of like beach volleyball without the volleyball.

In 2008, I visited the first UK branch in Nottingham. It was hideous and more than one of the waitresses told me, in the

… Read the rest

Nova has an interesting (and alarming) episode on melting permafrost in Siberia and Alaska that’s releasing methane–more warming–more melting and on it goes.

As the Arctic warms, methane that has been locked in permafrost for thousands of years escapes and can explode. Released methane that finds its way to the surface contributes to the greenhouse effect of climate change with even more heat retention capacity than carbon dioxide. Even igniting it doesn’t solve the problem, since that produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

It’s a tipping point, and it’s already tipped.

In Alaska they find a large lake bubbling with methane. On Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula, residents have reported large holes in the frozen tundra, including one more than

… Read the rest

The royal we doesn’t help his project.

To those who style themselves as progressive but hate me (generally because of @GoodLawProject's defence of trans rights) and so cheer the dishonest attacks of the right, I'd say, be careful what you wish for. Who else is going to do the work we do?

— Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) February 15, 2022

There’s a lot of What’s Wrong With Jolyon packed into that one. Making a public announcement of that kind. Starting with “style themselves progressive,” which is an insult. Much worse, that “but” – “You consider yourself progressive but you hate me, this must be underlined and explained.” I can consider myself progressive and find Jolyon Maugham vain and self-promoting and … Read the rest

Jolyon is blocking all the lawyers now.

Acknowledging that this may be taken as throwing down the gauntlet, I cannot imagine blocking another Member of Faculty. https://t.co/2ouPxSvrUN

— Roddy Dunlop KC (@RoddyQC) February 13, 2022

Oh dear.

I’ve never attacked Mr Maugham, in any way. I’ve never interacted with him. My sole crime seems to have been saying I couldn’t imagine blocking another Advocate.

If he ever wants to chat, he should pick up the phone. Till then: hugely, irredeemably disappointed. pic.twitter.com/TD8DNWIJZc

— Roddy Dunlop KC (@RoddyQC) February 16, 2022

https://twitter.com/jeremybrier/status/1493864251819233283

Plus it makes him look so good.… Read the rest

The wrong word was used in a magic ceremony so the magic ceremony is invalid. You might think this is a small matter that can easily be rectified by re-doing the ceremony using the correct word this time – but unfortunately, perhaps tragically, it wasn’t just the one, it was many. Many many many. And not valid means…eternal torture*. Oops.

A Catholic priest in Arizona has resigned after he was found to have performed baptisms incorrectly throughout his career, rendering the rite invalid for thousands of people.

Thousands of people doomed to eternal torture*! You’d think it would be dominating the news cycle.

The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix announced on its website that it determined after careful study that the

… Read the rest

Well…maybe, but then again maybe not.

When my son Connor first told me he was transgender and was not, in fact, the daughter I thought he was for the first 12 years of his life, I could have handled it a lot better.

It’s not that I kicked and screamed. I didn’t throw him out or call him vile names. I wasn’t even disappointed. It almost feels worse than all that: I didn’t believe him.

What if she’d said she was a llama, or a hummingbird, or Chomolungma? Would you now think you should have believed her?

A girl remains a girl even if she has picked up the novel cultural belief that her body is irrelevant to … Read the rest

Originally a Facebook post/Miscellany post by Bjarte Foshaug:

There is an expression in my mother tongue that translates as “Adam’s clothes” – or, alternatively, “Eve’s clothes” – and is commonly understood to denote the absence of any physical garments. This appears to be conclusive scientific* proof that the very first humans** were in fact trans-dressed and what they were wearing was widely accepted as a legitimate kind of clothing from the very beginning. The white, Western idea that wearing “clothes” – or being fully “dressed” – has anything to do with vulgar physical fabrics is a recent cultural invention and inextricably linked to cultural imperialism, Western hegemony and white supremacy, i.e. the stereotypical “dressed” person is not … Read the rest

Oh was it indeed.

slightly bemused that the Good law project can do a press release on the case today without mentioning its own case was wholly dismissed for two fundamental reasons. Is that not something people who donate money should be informed about?https://t.co/Q1sImulbfq

— Scott Wortley (@Scott_Wortley) February 15, 2022

Barrister Steven Barrett at the Spectator tells us the court ruled the Good Law Project doesn’t have standing.

…there was some confusion that the Good Law Project had ‘won’. It had not. Every claim brought by the GLP failed. The court I suspect did not want anyone to be so confused, so it stated that expressly in paragraph 126. There is very little ambiguity in the words ‘the

… Read the rest

More of the Pregnancy and Childbirth are for Everyone bullshit, this time from a charity that helps “birthing people.” The first thing you see on their website is

Support our work

Make a donation today to help us to provide pregnancy, birth and postnatal support for birthing people in Glasgow.  

The second thing you see, scrolling down, is

Who we help

We provide pregnancy, birth and postnatal support to birthing people facing barriers like poverty, isolation, or language.

On the about us page –

Amma Birth Companions is a registered Scottish charity that supports women and birthing people who are experiencing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood.

Wo, a mention of women at last! But birthing people are always … Read the rest

Andrew Windsor has settled the case.

Prince Andrew has settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre, court documents show.

…

A statement in the letter to US judge Lewis A Kaplan said the duke would make a “substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”. It added that Prince Andrew had “never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character” and he recognised she had “suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks”.

The duke also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association” with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking,

… Read the rest

Chris Cillizza says the walls are closing in on Trump.

The decision by Mazars further isolates Trump as he faces a series of legal problems. Consider that in addition to James’ investigation, Trump faces the following:

1) The new Manhattan district attorney told CNN in December that he plans to focus on the high-profile probe into Trump’s business practices and may expand the investigative team. As CNN’s Kara Scannell reported at the time: “The investigation, which has been underway for several years, appears to be coming to a head with prosecutors focusing on the accuracy of the Trump Organization’s financial statements when seeking financing, people familiar with the matter have told CNN.”

2) E. Jean Carroll is pursuing

… Read the rest

Very normal.

GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said former President Donald Trump’s statement in which he suggested executing Hillary Clinton campaign aides was “right on target” on Sunday.

Jordan, a staunch Trump ally, was reacting to the 45th president’s Saturday statement on a new court filing by the special counsel John Durham, reported by Fox News.

The filing said that former aides to Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign paid a tech company to access servers belonging to Trump Tower and afterward the Trump White House in an effort to find links to Russia.

Trump’s dealings with Russia are a private matter. That’s why he talked to Putin alone, that’s why he seized the translator’s notes after one of … Read the rest

Speaking of women skating in bathing suits while men skate in long trousers and long-sleeved shirts – adidas “believes women’s breasts deserve to be stared at support. Yes support, really, that’s what we meant, we just misspoke.”

https://twitter.com/adidas/status/1491411609180327942

And adidas definitely advertises men’s running shorts with walls of photos of penises, right?

https://twitter.com/adidas/status/1491421542169079814

Riiiiiiiiiiiight that’s what they’re doing.

This advert is up on a massive billboard, on a main road in London, in a heavy drinking area, under a small bridge. I found the tweet (above) because a friend just walked past it and messaged a group of us "The billboard is huge. I'm shaking. It's so fucked up." pic.twitter.com/CKuXjOSADT

— Lily Maynard (@LilyLilyMaynard) February 14, 2022

… Read the rest

There’s some kind of pattern here…I can’t quite figure out what it is…… Read the rest