Is Cap and Trade worth it?

I will concede that reducing CO2 emissions is a laudable goal. While most scientists do agree that CO2 emissions have an impact, there is still disagreement on the extent of that impact. Remember all that panic over Y2K? You really didn't what was going to happen until it happened. On January 1, 2000, most of us either breathed a sigh of relief or said "I told you so!" And there were some that were disappointed that the world didn't come to an end. There were some minor problems associated with Y2K, but it wasn't as devastating as many had feared.

Like a millennium prophet, Al Gore will have the privilege of getting to see first hand if he is right. Because CO2 levels will go up, and it is beyond the power of Congress to stop it. If it costs too much for a company to emit CO2 in the US, they will simply move elsewhere. As China, India, and other countries start to develop, there will be a massive increase in CO2.

If the worst case predictions are correct, then it won't matter what we do since we're all doomed anyway. On the other hand, if conservative talk show hosts are right, then we have nothing to worry about. But for the sake of argument, let's assume that the truth is somewhere in between. Even without human activity, the climate still changes from year to year, century to century, and eon to eon.

So here are my predictions:
1. Congress will either repeal "Cap and Trade" or grant exemptions to "vital" industries.
2. The climate will change, and we will adapt.
I feel rather confident about the second prediction, since there won't be anyone around to tell me that I was wrong.

What should the government do then? Everyone, including the government, should look into ways to reduce consumption of resources. Maybe I should start riding a bike to work, and maybe some wasteful government programs should be cut.

Enders' law

"As a internet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Republicans or Bush approaches 1."

Pet Peeve phrases

"Homicide bomber": This term was created because the term "suicide bomber" apparently created too much sympathy for the perpetrator. But most educated adults should recognize that there is no direct relationship between the righteousness of a cause and how suicidal its adherents are. For example, the Kamikazes of WWII fought and died on behalf of a genocidal regime. "Suicide bomber" is a more descriptive term than "homicide bomber". Most terrorists who set off bombs do so with the intent of committing homicide, a fraction of these terrorists deliberately kill themselves with the explosions that they detonate.

"White slavery": Slavery is a crime in this country. News anchors usually do not go out of their way to identify the race of a victim in a story. You don't hear about "Hispanic murder" or "Asian rape". The crime is heinous regardless of the race of the victim.

"24"

Almost every episode of the show ends with a cliffhanger. Jack Bauer is always trying to defuse a bomb, trying to control the bleeding, getting defibrillated, being held at gunpoint, etc. Do you know why? So they can instantly write the character off of the show if Kiefer Sutherland gets arrested again.

In the third Star Trek trailer, Pike tells Kirk that his father was a starship captain for 12 minutes and saved 800 lives. Right there you figure that George Kirk's career ended quite badly:
CAPTAIN GEORGE KIRK: Sir! I pleased to report in my 12th minute as captain, I have saved 800 lives.
ADMIRAL: You were supposed to save 2000 lives. Where are the other 1200?
CAPTAIN GEORGE KIRK: Ummm....
ADMIRAL: Your services are no longer required.

Trek Trivia

Name the episodes that have plots similar to the movies listed below.
Rashomon
Home Alone
Die Hard
The Enemy Below
Jurassic Park

Star Trek

There is a new clip from the upcoming movie here. It appears to be Kirk and Spock's first meeting.

Below are some clips that are not from the movie but are worth watching anyway.