Can the charts keep up?

[transmitterdan]

There are dozens of "news" stories out now that are placed by lobbying groups trying to assign blame for or end the shutdown. The pole shifting story was already out there a few years ago. Why is it in the news again now? Politics. If it weren't for the shutdown the magnetic north story would be buried.

Then they try to scare everyone that a "flip" is on the way. But if you read the actual papers they say that a flip is a long way off as far as we know. The recent shifts are interesting but not a harbinger of doom. And flip isn't even the right term because it takes many years or decades for the north and south poles to switch direction. Nobody's sure how long it would really take.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

There are dozens of "news" stories out now that are placed by lobbying groups trying to assign blame for or end the shutdown. The pole shifting story was already out there a few years ago. Why is it in the news again now? Politics. If it weren't for the shutdown the magnetic north story would be buried.

Then they try to scare everyone that a "flip" is on the way. But if you read the actual papers they say that a flip is a long way off as far as we know. The recent shifts are interesting but not a harbinger of doom. And flip isn't even the right term because it takes many years or decades for the north and south poles to switch direction. Nobody's sure how long it would really take.

Re the World Magnetic Model:

Because of extraordinarily large and erratic movements of the north magnetic pole, an out-of-cycle update to the WMM was due to be released on January 15, 2019

Now, I don't really think NATO, WHO and USDoD decided to roll out an out of cycle update of the WMM just to embarrass the US government over the shutdown; that decision was made before the shutdown... but sure, the shutdown does add drama to the story.

[SeanPatrick]

This thread reads like a script of a Monty Python movie.

[CaptTom]

M: I came here for a good argument!

O: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!

M: An argument isn't just contradiction.

O: Well! it CAN be!

M: No it can't!

M: An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.

O: No it isn't!

M: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.

O: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position!

M: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'.

O: Yes it is!

M: No it isn't!

O: Yes it is!

M: No it isn't!

O: Yes it is!

M: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.

O: It is NOT!

M: It is!

O: Not at all!

M: It is!

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by SeanPatrick

This thread CF often reads like a script of a Monty Python movie.

FTFY


Some of the threads on CF really give the impression that cruisers are bored out of their skulls, and this bickering passes for entertainment.


(ok, my excuse is that it's diversion at work )