Just about heard it all now -- "study" shows "Global ...

by Edward ODaniel Jul 13, 2007 2:29AM PDT

Warming" causes a "rash" of Poison Ivy.

Talk about JUNK SCIENCE, this is a prime example.

Berks County, PA - Poison ivy seems to be hardier and may be more potent than ever in Berks County and other areas in the East.

?In the last several years, there are more vines and they?re more vibrant,? said Dan Hewko, manager of the 665-acre Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Cumru Township.

This year at Reading Hospital, the emergency department is treating more cases of poison ivy-related contact dermatitis, or rashes, than in other recent years, said Dr. Charles F. Barbera, chairman of emergency medicine.

Exact figures weren?t available.
...

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=48807

Here is an opinion on the "study" that is well worth reading -

...
Using anecdotal evidence by a park ranger who says he sees a lot more poison ivy in the woods and an emergency room doctor, not to mention a government study, reporter Jason Brudereck proclaims that global warning is causing the sudden an unexplained increase in poison ivy cases.

The article is punctuated with such phrases as "exact figures weren't available" and the ER doctor "doesn't know why the number of cases has increased," but the reporter still draws the conclusion that it's global warming run amuck

The only "proof" Brudereck needs to back his thesis in an interview with a U.S. Department of Agriculture plant physiologist who conducted a study that grew the poison ivy plant under two different conditions.

"One set of plants was exposed to air that contained 300 parts per million of carbon dioxide, which is roughly the equivalent of the amount in the atmosphere 50 years ago," Brudereck states. "Another set of plants was exposed to air that contained 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide, which is the level found in the atmosphere today."

The conclusion: The plants grown at today's carbon dioxide levels were as much as 75 percent larger and had about the same increase in the amount of rash-causing oil they produced, according to the article.

There you have it folks. Conclusive proof. One study by one scientist under one set of conditions. Let's ban automobiles from the U.S. and shut down our factories. Otherwise, we run the risk getting poison ivy.

Maybe the plant guy could try growing poison ivy in soil loaded with manure to see if it grows faster. Maybe he could water one set of plants more than the other to see if water has anything to do with plants growing. But that wouldn't prove global warming, would it?
...

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/tphyrillas_20070707.html

I myself have a "theory" supported extremely well by articles such as this that leaning too far to the left causes massive cognitive dissonance and atrophy of the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum accompanied by hyperactivity of portions of the right frontal lobe leading to articles like this (perpetual motion?). Further support of this "theory" is available on request (or by simple observation).

Discussion is locked

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Global warming, like all junk theories, can adapt to explain

by Kiddpeat Jul 13, 2007 5:47AM PDT

anything. Cold wave? Global warming. Heat wave? Global warming.

We have years of experience in developing these theories. Just look at evolution. The tragedy is that most believe that this stuff is true even though there is abundant evidence that it is not true. After all, it can explain anything. Isn't that what science does?

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religion explains everything if you desire-science knows

by wailwatcher Jul 24, 2007 4:12PM PDT

when to stop

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And when

by JP Bill Jul 13, 2007 6:10AM PDT

the "left leaners" start leaning right OR the "right leaners" are the majority?

Time for you to have a frontal lobotomy?

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Thanks! ...

by Edward ODaniel Jul 14, 2007 4:50AM PDT

for offering even more sustaining evidence of that specific atrophy I mentioned because without it you would have studiously avoided saying what you did.

Think about what you said and you will see how it supports the theory.

Ta

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You're Welcome

by JP Bill Jul 14, 2007 5:21AM PDT

I know there's an insult buried in your post somewhere, but your "Thanks" makes up for it.

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(NT) Thanks again for yet another.

by Edward ODaniel Jul 15, 2007 6:34AM PDT

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2 "Thanks" from Edward ODaniel?

by JP Bill Jul 15, 2007 12:03PM PDT

Where's my calendar?

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That?s exactly what the ?science? is

by duckman Jul 14, 2007 7:21AM PDT

Behind global warming. Anecdotal evidence combined with other anecdotal evidence that can all be disproved with verifiable science.

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On the other hand.....

by Angeline Booher Jul 14, 2007 7:23AM PDT

Poison ivy does grow "more vibrant" when weather conditions are most favorable.

The same for pine cones, black gum tree "nuts/fruits/seed pods-whatever they are called", as well as with other plant life.

As there s not a link to the PA story, I don't know if there was a mention of global warming.

From the link provided, it appears that the above story was in a PA newspaper written by a "reporter", Jason Brudereck, Of course, I don't know if that reporter is a scientist, though he is identified only as a reporter.

I also don't know if the story was presented as a theory , which seems more logical, or a thesis, which would suggest to me that Mr. Budereck is a scientist who submitted the story to a professional journal.

I agree that there is junk science. (Witness the infomercials late at night.) Even serious scientists have many failures. But sometimes it takes that one person to notice what many others have missed. Like Edward Jenner and small pox, Louie Pasteur and safe milk, etc.

And I'm not supporting glob warming caused the increase in that poison ivy.

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator

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what do you mean "there's not a link to the PA story" ?

by Edward ODaniel Jul 14, 2007 7:52AM PDT

The very first link takes you to it. Readingeagle.com is the web site of the PA paper and as the by line indicates, Jason Brudereck writes for them.

As indicated in the second link, more abundant CO2 by itself will increase gowth and thus the author of the second link's tongue in cheek remark wondering about fertilizer.

The story was not about "when weather conditions are most favorable" or even increased CO2, it was an attempt to lay this off on "global warming". In short Angeline it is completely MISLEADING.

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No, What's "junk" is the kneejerk assumption

by SE Moderators Jul 22, 2007 2:42PM PDT

that because something "is consistent with" rather than "firmly establishes that," there must be something wrong with the result. In fact, one of the acceptable logical proofs of a theorem is that all other possible explanations have been ruled out -- this means that no one piece of evidence is "concrete proof," but rather that all the evidence taken together establishes the conclusion "beyond a reasonable doubt." The same logical approach accounts for the presence of many murderers in prison for life, on death row, or in the graveyard -- all because of what the defense attorney fruitlessly argued was "purely circumstantial evidence."

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET or the other SE Mods.

BTW -- at the moment I hardly "skimming" anything; K and I are currently enjoying a well-deserved (and much-needed) vacation
in the Canadian Rockies.

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Things that hit me, Dave...

by J. Vega Jul 22, 2007 3:15PM PDT

You know, Dave, I have been seeing articles over the years about the great increase in people visiting national parks and articles about the increase in people "getting back to nature" by visiting the woods. There is poison ivy in the woods, more people are visiting the woods, a lot of them come into contact with poison ivy.
Thought: When I was growing up in the days of great popularity of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls, etc. many kids were taught to recognize (and avoid) poison ivy. Scouting is not as popular as it was, which begs the question: Could an increase in number of people running afoul of poison ivy compared to previous levels be due to less education in identification and avoidance of it? I wonder how many of the kids today would complete the old saying "Leaves of three..." with the second half of it "let it be!"?

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Well, you can say it all right but you can't seem to see ...

by Edward ODaniel Jul 24, 2007 3:38AM PDT

that YOUR OWN WORDS illustrate how far fetched the "scientist's theory" is about global warming causing poison ivy.

YOU can't seem to see that In fact, one of the acceptable logical proofs of a theorem is that all other possible explanations have been ruled out -- this means that no one piece of evidence is "concrete proof," but rather that all the evidence taken together establishes the conclusion "beyond a reasonable doubt." squelches this "scientist's" approach to his "proof".

That is indeed JUNK SCIENCE (on the same order as combing your hair causes all your hair to fall out because a few hairs can be seen on the comb - you can even "peer review" that observation but it won't make it real science).

Just about heard it all now -- "study" shows "Global ...

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