Croc

That's funny. In LA, the only real winds we get are the Santa Anas, and those are hot desert winds. Only along the coast do you get a cooler seabreeze.

This is a very valid point. The question, though, is more of an issue with quantifying effects than the existence of effects. What we know: the earth's climate has been increasing gradually over the past millenia; we are, geologically speaking, still leaving an ice age. That said, corresponding with the industrial revolution, the average annual increase in global temperatures has been escalating at a faster rate. The ozone layer is earth's natural defense against increased UV radiation, which causes warming. Since the industrial revolution, the amount of greenhouse gases as increased dramatically, leading to massive ozone depletion. Since legislation in the 1970s and the banning of the use of many CFCs and aerosol products in the 1980s, the ozone hole has begun to shrink. Logically, there is a relationship between the hypothesis that CFCs and other pollutants may have had a deleterious effect on the ozone layer, to legislation being enacted to combat this, and then a subsequent reversal of the deterioration of the ozone layer. With China's (and SE Asia in general) industrialization in the last decade, though, this may no longer be the case. Jury's still out. We may not yet understand the exact mechanics of what is occurring, but scientists do see the relationships between some human activity, and some climate effects. It's kinda like hurricanes: we know a lot about hurricanes...what causes them, what feeds them, and what kind of damage they inflict. But we still don't quite understand how they move. We cannot yet predict with any certainty where and when they shift direction, or where they make landfall. We don't even know exactly when they will gain or lose strength. But we still know, despite that, that hurricanes exist, and what their effects are on the territory they pass through.

Well, what do you think? Burning forests, sparked by humans in the vast majority of cases (Tea fire was caused by a smoldering campfire that was not properly extinguished), put a $h! ton of carbon in the air, just like wood burning, volcanic eruptions, coal-powered factories, and any other method of combustion.

But there's nothing natural about all the pollution we pump into the atmosphere. Did you know that the ozone layer is a lot less effective than it used to be (excluding the hole)? Baby boomers had much less UV intensity back in the 50s and 60s. Are you going to tell me that more intense global UV light exposure won't have any climatic effects? It isn't natural.

Clearly. You can feel it when you breathe, or even when you're just outside and your eyes burn. That isn't good. The wildfires made the whole damn city smell of smoke last week.

I'd make a Miley Cyrus/Jonas Bros./purity ring joke, but I think I'll just link to this video instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVT9hP3s-0

Although your language was polarizing, I have to agree with you. I found very little substantiated facts in that article, and it was written with an obvious slant. Doesn't pass my BS detector. Knowing what I know, and knowing what the climate has become over the past 100 years, the trends of the polar ice caps, the issues with water currants along the Pacific coast leading to decreased seafood harvesting, and the more extreme weather that has occurred...Hello, global warming exists.

Okay, Audrina.

OK now that is just effin brilliant. Applause, sir, applause.

No, I like 110. Warmer is better.

Add me to the list.

Heh, this will really rile up the politicians. If true, this pretty much guarantees a bailout. Maybe a republican or two will be convinced under the guise of "national security" crisis.

OK, your turn: 3 weeks = how many dates? If less than 10, I'm going to have to give you $h! for sounding like one of those girls who calls Dr. Drew on Loveline. Overshare. Texting "I love you"s and "I miss you"s constantly throughout the day is what made me loathe my sister's current BF. Schmoopie. If you don't want to scare him, dial it back a notch. And by a notch I mean take it from Level 50 to about 6. Why not take the lead? Because it's desperate and needy. Don't be taken for a fool by rushing into things. Two outcomes generally occur from moving in on someone too quickly: they run far, far away and change their identity and/or file a restraining order...or they see $$ and bilk you for all you're worth. Give it time, let it grow organically.

OK this reminds me of a really, really bizarre experience from high school. They had a Starbucks right across the street from my HS, and I was obviously in there all the time. First name basis with every employee, big tips, and in return free drinks all the time. Like once I forgot my wallet and didn't realize until after I ordered, and I was able to get my drink anyway b/c they knew I'd be back later and would pay them then. ANYWAY So this flamboyant barista...let's not use real names so I'll call him Pax. Went to my HS graduated class of 99, we knew some of the same families, etc. I'm friendly to all my baristas, because most of them are cool, I like getting good service, and if you're a favorite customer you get tons of free $h!...all just for being a decent, friendly human being. I like that deal. So Pax is always comping my drinks. Like almost every time he rings me up. Cool, I won't complain. This was the year the Texas case went to the Supreme Court, and one time I was in there and Pax, another two baristas and I were discussing it. Because I was pretty strongly against the Texas law as a matter of civil rights and basic human decency, I guess Pax got the wrong idea. Guy got kinda pushy...I say I'm going to apply to big CA schools for college, and he's like "No no no...what you want is a small liberal arts college. TRUST ME on that." I assured him I was well aware of what I was doing. Later on some comment was made, or something I don't quite remember, but my response must have given him the idea that maybe, just maybe I wasn't receptive to his "advances" and BAM the bitch turned on a dime and was the rudest, most foul barista I've ever known, to the extent that even his fellow baristas would be like "DUDE what is your problem! This guy's awesome and is in here every day!" Then turn to me and be like "I am SO SORRY I have no idea what's gotten into him today." Anyway, Olds, your barista story reminded me of my own. But if you want to avoid this situation in the future, a box of chocolate, however small, might be overly ambiguous...seems a little excessive of a "thank you" to someone you're not interested in. Stick to dropping a Jackson in the tip jar instead.

Same. I don't even bother thinking about the beach if downtown isn't above 80 because it's always 10 degrees cooler on the coast. Trying to get a tan in 65 degrees is NOT optimal.

I caved. Last night it was all about Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles. 1/2 Chicken, 2 waffles, and macaroni and cheese. Ahhhhh the burps taste so good! Aaaaaanyway...LA has been going through another heat wave. Thank God, I wasn't doing well when the temps dipped down to the mid-60s. I feel like such a pussy...I'm freezing in the 60s, but when I was in Indianapolis I'd wear long sleaves if it were below 50. I've acclimated for sure.

I have a hard time believing that, considering Indianapolis is portion control hell, and there's no way that much food would go for so little in that hick town. It was a LOT of food, so much so I didn't get hungry until midnight. The corned beef hash alone was a meal's worth of food. God I love Philippe's. Does pretty damn well for a 100-year old place. Another night of insomnia...where to go for this morning's breakfast? Philippe's again? Lucy's for a chorizo con huevo burrito? One of the 24/7 Korean places for cheap spicy K-town food? Decisions, decisions...

My father had to wait nearly 6 months for his 2000 DHS because he wanted NightVision. First Cadillac with the stuff in Indiana, and one of the first 5-10 produced for customers, I think.

The butter was strictly reserved for the rye toast, completed with Knott's Berry Farm boisenberry jelly. Then after I ran out of toast, I just ate butter and jelly, mixed together. And pancakes? Eh, french toast for the win almost every time. Love bacon, too; I need to try a gutter dog sometime soon--it's ridiculous I haven't yet after nearly 5 SC football seasons.

But I didn't mention how I pulled a Paula Deen with the 6 pats of butter they gave me. It's becoming a growing problem lately...all I can dream about is the incredible food coma I'll be in the evening of November 27th. Need to start dieting in preparation for that haha

Is that a difference between US and Canadian law? Down here, just this is all he needs to have a case:

I'd want GM to allocate a majority of it to product development, particularly interior refreshes pretty much across-the-line-up, and particularly to Pontiac, Buick, and small Chevrolets. The rest should go toward reducing dealership glut in metro areas, and in upgrading key factories to be more cost-effective.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this post. You were sold a car on ABS and Traction Control, because you value safety and tried to ensure you got it. I'm assuming that you paid money in real dollars to get a vehicle with those features that were advertised to you as being on the vehicle. Turns out you don't have them. Where does "honest mistake" come in? That GM made an "honest mistake" in not installing a safety feature your car was supposed to have according to the sticker, build sheet, and vehicle history report? Do you think your car just happened to be the only car this ever happened to, or do you think there are other people who might have this same problem? ABS and traction control in a winter weather climate are IMO more important than air bags. Recalls would certainly be issued if GM made an "honest mistake" in forgetting to install air bags on vehicles that were supposed to have them (assuming for sake of argument they were "optional" air bags, like head curtains, or rear seat side airbags). I'm not sure what the "nuclear option" is you're referring to, either...my previous post was meant as a road map of sorts to getting this issue resolved. Yes, talk to your dealer, but...what exactly do you want out of it? I assumed you want ABS and traction control installed, hence my road map of getting that. Not having it is going to cost you...both in the real dollars you undoubtably paid in purchasing the car, and in money you or your brother won't get back when you sell the car. Not having those is a killer on resale. You may also lose money in the event of an accident that would have otherwise been avoidable. And don't think I'm being overly cynical about the dealership balking initially...they hate doing warrenty claims because they have to incur labor that you don't have to pay for. In this economy, they are going to be even more motivated to not do work that isn't absolutely necessary. Hold your ground, be polite, but firm, and don't be intimidated. And I don't know about up in Canada, but in America a little bluster can go a long way in getting your way. When I was buying my Aurora, the dealership tried to tell me that even though it had a "Certified Pre-Owned" sticker on it, and the salesman described it to me as such, that they were really just using my car to advertise the fact that they had certified pre-owned vehicles on the lot. When I put the keys on the table, refused to sign the last piece of paperwork and proceeded to raise my voice about how I found that to be deceptive, dishonest, and potentially fraudulent so everyone in the showroom could hear me, I suddenly got $500 knocked off the price and a brake job thrown in for free. Yay! By the way, I just realized you have a Cobalt in your sig, not a G5. Pourquoi?

If it was on the dealership sticker, and you still have all the paperwork confirming it, then they have an obligation to make it right. Just mention consumer fraud and they'll rush any remedy they possibly can. If not, call up your Canadian equivalent to the US States' Attourneys General, and work with them.

Look at whom has the power, and look at whom bankrolls the power. Trace the lines of money and power in this country, and it makes a lot of sense. Doesn't make it right, but the "logic" makes sense.