Global Warming

Here are tips consumers can use to help reduce global warming: Select a fuel-efficient car. Purchasing a car is considered the most important climate decision consumers can make. Each gallon of gasoline consumed releases 25 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Better gas mileage not only reduces global warming, but will save thousands of dollars in gasoline costs over the life of the vehicle. Also consider new technologies such as hybrid engines.

"We're creating a different planet. If you were to come ... back in 100 years' time, we'll have a different climate. " - Kevin Trenberth, one of the report's authors and director of climate analysis for the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. It has been probably 15 years since I saw comedian George Carlin perform at The Maryland Theatre. His standup routine that night included a bit that, according to about a zillion sites on the Web, is titled "The Planet Is Fine.

Global warming can be solved by taxing carbon dioxide sources according to the amount they release into the atmosphere and using the money raised to subsidize zero carbon dioxide alternatives. The model for this policy is the Social Security system, which is one of the only federal programs that actually works, at least so far. The reason it works is because it is astonishingly simple. Working people pay their FICA taxes, and the money goes into a trust fund. From that fund, Social Security checks are written for retirees.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The canaries in the coal mine of global warming are the polar ice caps, rapidly melting and threatening to displace tens of millions of people as sea levels rise and inundate the coastal regions of Earth, Lance Simmens told his audience Tuesday at Wilson College. Former Vice President Al Gore's message from the Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" about reducing fossil fuel use to save the planet was delivered by Simmens, a special assistant to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

o If you like reading Tim Rowland, you'll love watching him. See what else Tim has to say I had a difficult time believing in such a thing as acid rain until the balsam forests in the mountains where I like to hike turned brown, and what had been rich fishing holes became sterile pools of lifeless water. Still, the notion of making up one's mind on the basis of firsthand information - and not on the basis of someone else's say-so - has a lot going for it. Too many people have agendas, too many people have axes to grind and too many people have money riding on the outcome to put your full faith and confidence into ideas of which you have no direct knowledge.

His wish list contains global warming concerns I'm making my list, and I'm checking it twice. But it's not my Christmas list. No, this is my list of things to do about global warming. I was hoping all the talk in Japan the past couple of weeks about the greenhouse effect would take care of the problem. But, alas, I'm skeptical that the nations of the world really are going to do much about it. I'll just have to do it myself. I hope the hardware store and pharmacy in Clear Spring have everything I need.

Commentary Count me among those unimpressed with this year's annual Potomac River "Polar Bear Plunge. " I blame global warming. Yes, 100 people leaped into the drink for charity on Monday, but you have to admit, the event just isn't the bracing challenge that it used to be. Like, what was the temperature Monday, 50? Forget the wetsuit, bring the SPF 15. It goes on like this, and the danger from the plunge isn't going to be frostbite, it's going to be sunstroke. A decade from now, what's the news story going to say: "One hundred members of the Polar Bear Club braved 85 degree temperatures to take a New Year's dive into the Potomac River?"

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - When the town of Shepherdstown talks about rolling back greenhouse gases to calm the effects of global warming, Lance Dom acknowledges that it's only a small piece of the puzzle. "When Chicago does (it), it's real," said Dom, the mayor of Shepherdstown. But Shepherdstown's work on global warming goes further than reducing the use of paper at town hall or maybe purchasing a more fuel-efficient police car. Shepherdstown officials hope they are paving the way for other governments to become more environmentally conscious and are collaborating with environmental studies students at Shepherd University to get there.

As part of this month's coverage of the Nov. 4 election for Maryland's 6th District seat in Congress, The Herald-Mail asked the three candidates to respond in up to 100 words to a few questions about issues. Last week, the candidates talked about immigration. This week's question is: How should the federal government react to global warming? U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, Republican: There are many people and organizations concerned about climate change. Others focus on reducing the threat to our economy and national security from dependence upon imported oil. Many worry about the impact of fossil fuels on our environment.

One year ago, an idealistic group of people gathered in Washington, D.C., to fret over the earth's environment and scheme for cleaner fuels and technologies. They ate organic canaps and drank wine supplied by a solar-powered, California vineyard. Rush Limbaugh would have hooted them out of town. Except that the speaker wasn't some gingham-dressed earth momma, it was Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric, which through the years had not exactly built a reputation as a friend of Woodsy Owl. But by 2012, instead of a 40 percent increase in the emission of greenhouse gases - which was projected - Immelt pledged GE would decrease its emissions by 1 percent.

The planet we're (not) leaving to our children To the editor: I read Richard Giovanoni's letter (May 24) with puzzlement. I was unsure of his point, which seemed to favor uncontrolled population growth. What caught my eye, however, were his repeated misstatements concerning the book “The Limits to Growth.” The Club of Rome published the book in 1972. It reports the results from a computer simulation called “The World Model,” which was produced at MIT by a team of American researchers.

“I was reading today's paper and I was seeing where someone was saying, from Hagerstown, that President Obama's much stronger on defense than Bush. Well, that's a bunch of you-know-what. Let's start it off here: He pulled out of Iraq too soon, even though we never should have been in Iraq, but we pulled out of there too soon. Now look at the turmoil. Sure, he helped get rid of Gadhafi, so the Muslim Brotherhood could take over that country. ...  I'm a retiree from the Army, and I haven't had a pay raise in two years.

"I'd just like to say 'good job' to our local police department on the good job on the arrest of the copper tubing arrest. " — Hagerstown "Tuesday I took my grandchildren fishing in Keedysville in the under 16 or over 65 area. Although they are only 6 and 4 it seems that they can count to five better than the over 65 group who would catch their limit of five, take them to their car and then go back and catch five more. What kind of example are you guys setting?" — Edgemont "What is wrong with the people in Mail Call?

Baby, it’s cold outside. As I write this, the area is experiencing cold temperatures. I remember hearing earlier this year that December was one of our coldest.   During times like these, it is hard to take these global warming prophets seriously.  Especially when they say the extreme cold is a function of global warming. The mantra is something like “the extremes in weather are the result of global warming.” As I get older, I find myself hoping for a little global warming.

Baby it’s cold outside. As I write this, the area is experiencing cold temperatures. I remember hearing earlier this year that December was one of our coldest.   During times like these, it is hard to take these global-warming prophets seriously.  Especially when they say the extreme cold is a function of global warming. The mantra is something like “the extremes in weather are the result of global warming.” As I get older, I find myself hoping for a little global warming.