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Lance Groth

lance.groth's picture
St. Paul, Minnesota
Commenter for
1 year 14 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/21/13 at 02:13 pm in response to It's time for more climate research

The denialist strategy has always been clear: create as much confusion and doubt as possible about the science, with the goal of delaying action so that the fossil fuels gravy train can continue to roll and conservative politics can prevail. The obfuscation is targeted at lay people who don't "get" science anyway, not at the actual scientists who do the work, who are in consensus about what the data show.

One common tactic is to point out that CO2 makes up only a small part of the...

Posted on 05/22/13 at 02:36 pm in response to It's time for more climate research

I'm sorry, there is no logic here. The Earth's climate system will do what it does in response to natural variation in inputs. It's quite enough for us to deal with that, we don't need to pile on with artificial forcing. Especially when we know the direction it will take, and that direction is not good. IOW, natural variability has nothing to do with human alteration of the environment. This is just more misdirection, like the "CO2 is just a tiny part of the atmosphere" gambit.

Posted on 05/22/13 at 02:58 pm in response to It's time for more climate research

When the objections fly in the face of established science, with no basis in the science itself but plenty of obvious political basis, denialist is the proper label. The Right in this country has a long record of subverting, suppressing and discrediting science that they find to be politically inconvenient. Hell, doing so was official policy in the Bush-43 administration. I have no tolerance for that.

As for action plans, I have already said I favor construction of many new nuke...

Posted on 05/16/13 at 04:25 pm in response to Ecolab’s produce-wash system reduces food-borne illness

"And it’s not necessary to rinse the produce after using the treatment"

Er, OK, but what is in the treatment, exactly? We'll stipulate that ingesting some of whatever-it-is won't kill you on the spot, but then, neither will the BPA lining cans and bottles. Nevertheless, it's not something you should want to ingest.

Posted on 05/14/13 at 04:58 pm in response to As Isle Royale wolves slide toward extinction, a call for 'genetic rescue'

I don't detect any panic in the article, rather a reasoned discussion on whether anything should be done, and if so, which option makes the most sense.

I must also note that the value of things is not always best measured by dollars, although here in America people are obsessed with it. I don't see anything in the article to suggest that a "genetic rescue" would cost millions. Perhaps it would be more than I would guess, but they're only talking about relocating a few wolves. I'm...

Posted on 05/10/13 at 02:59 pm in response to Are Fido and Fluffy good for your heart? Studies suggest yes

Animals are good for people. I thought that had been studied to death and accepted as established fact by now. Anyone with a companion animal will tell you that. But maybe it's worth another study or two if it leads to Bill Gleason's health insurance discount idea ... :)

Posted on 05/09/13 at 12:37 pm in response to Letter From Skunk Hollow: A sunny morning and coyote strolls into view

Thank you for choosing to coexist. Too many people are far too bloody-handed, in my opinion, whether out of fear, or misinformation, or simply because they get a thrill out of killing. These creatures are magnificent fellow living beings on this world, and it is far more satisfying to see them living as nature intended, wild and free, than bloody and dead. I enjoy living in the city, for now, but I am thirsty for what you see every day, and hope to retire to such a place one day.

Posted on 05/02/13 at 06:33 pm in response to Medical marijuana bills introduced at Minnesota Legislature

I have to agree - law enforcement is there to do exactly what the term says, enforce the law, not create the law. The legislature and the governor are there to create law and policy. For the Governor to sit there and wait for law enforcement to tell him what the law should be is upside down.

Posted on 05/01/13 at 04:16 pm in response to Patient fools St. Cloud hospital into believing he's Pink Floyd's David Gilmour

Considering that Gilmour is 67 and looks it, the 53-year old impostor must not be aging well, and is probably in need of some health care. It should have been a simple matter to suss out the impostor - just hand him a guitar and ask him to play "Comfortably Numb".

Posted on 05/01/13 at 12:42 pm in response to Hunter mistakes a county cop for turkey

You don't think it's newsworthy that a man shot another man at shotgun range, thinking he was a turkey?? How does anyone mistake a man for a turkey at 100 yards or less? Brian didn't say anything about gun control - he merely reported an event that ought to raise anyone's eyebrow.

I suppose we should also ignore the report of the 5-year old who shot his 2-year old sister with his "first rifle", a .22. A "first rifle"? For a 5-year old? Really? Well, they do have a colorful stock...