Bharat Shetty wrote, [on 6/27/2008 2:58 AM]:
Just wanted to lap up the list's opinion about Micheal Crichton and his
novel State of the Fear. What do you think about his views regarding the
"Global Warming". Please pour some.
I'll refrain from "pouring some" as people who know more science than I
do have already done so.
http://realclimate.org/index.php?p=74
http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/crichton_as_he_deserves/
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2005/02/06/checking_crichtons_footnotes/
From the first URL referenced above (do read all of them fully, they're
worth the time invested)
<q>
In a departure from normal practice on this site, this post is a
commentary on a piece of out-and-out fiction (unlike most of the other
posts which deal with a more subtle kind). Michael Crichton's new novel
"State of Fear" is about a self-important NGO hyping the science of the
global warming to further the ends of evil eco-terrorists. The
inevitable conclusion of the book is that global warming is a
non-problem. A lesson for our times maybe? Unfortunately, I think not.
Like the recent movie "The Day After Tomorrow", the novel addresses real
scientific issues and controversies, but is similarly selective (and
occasionally mistaken) about the basic science. I will discuss a
selection of the global warming-related issues that are raised in
between the car chases, shoot-outs, cannibalistic rites and assorted
derring-do. The champion of Crichton's scientific view is a MIT
academic-turned-undercover operative who clearly runs intellectual rings
around other characters. The issues are raised as conversations and Q
and A sessions between him (and other 'good guys') and two characters;
an actor (not a very clever chap) and a lawyer (a previously duped
innocent), neither of whom know much about the science.
So for actors and lawyers everywhere, I will try and help out.
</q>
--
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
