Large Scale Central

The Lunatic Fringe Strikes Again

General Discussion
#1

In another missive sure to tickle the fancies of everyone here, the Lunatic Fringe has produced yet another gem.

The Scientific American says that wind turbines are causing the deaths of bats in massive numbers (Holy Batman!). It seems that the twirlin’ blades create a low pressure area as they course through the air. The bat, which “sees” the blade with its echo location gear, turns to avoid the blade and flies through the low pressure area, which causes the air in their lungs to rapidly expand, bursting the alviolai, breaking the capillaries and causing the poor bat to drown in its own blood. Catherine Brahic of The New Scientist echos the story, as does Erin Baerwald of the University of Calgary.

As usual, the US Gummint Scientists are way off base.

Those poor bats. We have to do something! Storm the towers! Tear them down!

:lol:

#2

They need something to study to justify their budget.

Seems to me the place for these wind farms would be at sea.
Ralph

#3

Windfarms at sea are not new.

Here is just one http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/43302/great-yarmouth-wind-farm/like/

#4

Ah, the revenge of the Spotted Owls!

#5

Whatsa matta, Steve? Did bats scare you as a little boy and now you hate them? What other harmless little critters do you hate?
Since the bats that frequent my yard every evening can eat up to a thousand skeeters an hour, I’m happy to have them around.

-Brian

#6

Maybe I missed something, but I don’t see anything in this study that deserves the “lunatic fringe” label. Like 'em or not, bats are useful critters. If the windfarms are killing excessive numbers of them, it’s worth putting some effort into finding a to reduce the kills.

#7
Ray Dunakin said:
Maybe I missed something, but I don't see anything in this study that deserves the "lunatic fringe" label. Like 'em or not, bats are useful critters. If the windfarms are killing excessive numbers of them, it's worth putting some effort into finding a to reduce the kills.
There wasn't anything like that mentioned in the scientific studies, Ray, but don't tell Steve. He likes to scour the internet to share with us any tidbit of perceived right wing propaganda.

-Brian

#8

Scientific American is a highly reputable journal–the articles are peer reviewed and well documented. It’s not the “lunatic fringe” by any means.

I’m really sorry to hear that–bats are very useful and harmless. If wind farms wipe out local bats it’s bad news.

#9

Mike,

You said - "Scientific American is a highly reputable journal–the articles are peer reviewed and well documented. It’s not the “lunatic fringe” by any means. "

Does that mean it is one set of parasites assisiting/supporting another set of parasites to steal more tax dollars through grants to support unfounded bull hokey about totally usless crap that nobody would care about if it wasn’t for the ability to get more tax funded grant money to study more crap? We live daily with “peer reviewed” missinformation used to fund useless programs. Using your signature - skeptical but resigned.

My only thoughts to this type of stuff is “go get a real job”.

#10

Maybe we should put the “bat” on the endangered species list along with the polar bear.

#11

Hey Ken.

You won’t have to bother doing that before too long.
They are all dying out too fast for man to save them.

#12
TonyWalsham said:
Hey Ken.

You won’t have to bother doing that before too long.
They are all dying out too fast for man to save them.


Doesn’t that fall under the definition of evolution?

#13

Not if we are causing their demise.

#14

What would make it “evolution”? A natural occurance? Is it unnatural for something to be invented by intelligent beings that were given the ability to reason? I think the results fall under sh!t happens. :wink:

#15

The saber-toothed tiger and wooly mammath died out…I don’t miss’em…

#16

More propaganda and BS from the bunny huggers.
Raise their electric rates to say, 1000 bucks a month, and they’ll be screaming F%^%$ the bats!

#17
Ric Golding said:
What would make it "evolution"? A natural occurance? Is it unnatural for something to be invented by intelligent beings that were given the ability to reason? I think the results fall under sh!t happens. ;-)
I'll keep that in mind if your town is hit by a tornado or some other natural disaster. Hey sh!t happens! They shouldn't have lived there.

-Brian

#18
Brian Donovan said:
Whatsa matta, Steve? Did bats scare you as a little boy and now you hate them? What other harmless little critters do you hate? Since the bats that frequent my yard every evening can eat up to a thousand skeeters an hour, I'm happy to have them around.

-Brian


I guess I missed the connection here, Brian. Can you drive it by a little slower? After all, I’m just a stupid conservative. :lol:

#19
Brian Donovan said:
Ric Golding said:
What would make it "evolution"? A natural occurance? Is it unnatural for something to be invented by intelligent beings that were given the ability to reason? I think the results fall under sh!t happens. ;-)
I'll keep that in mind if your town is hit by a tornado or some other natural disaster. Hey sh!t happens! They shouldn't have lived there.

-Brian


And when Gustav finishes off what Katrina started, what do we say, then?

Brian, methinks that you drank too much Koolaid, this morning.

#20

Well, the usual suspects got it wrong, again. The “Lunatic Fringe” that I was referring to was the US Gummint Scientists who got it terribly wrong.

It’s amazing how fast some folks want to try to discredit other folks. Don’t you just love the “Silly Season?”

edited to correct verb tense so as to not offend HJ and Tony :lol: