Given how much of Houston is close to sea level, rising ocean levels could greatly simplify public transportation here. "One ferry ticket from downtown to the Heights, please." :)

Steve Palmer said:  "One ferry ticket from downtown to the Heights, please." :)

(clears throat)  That will be $10, please sir?  *lol*

Mr. Palmer,

Take a pyrex measuring cup, put in ice cubes, filling the cup hal-way,  then pour in water until the level is at two cups.  wait for the ice to melt.

One should note that after the ice melted, the level goes down.

So, if the ice in the artic ocean melts, the area which melted, makes more room for the liquid, ergo, the level of the ocean would not rise.

Too much ALGORE, not enough science.

The comments:

1.  Can you blame global warming on the events of Sept. 8, 1900?  (Hint:  Location, 50 miles SE of Houston.)

2.  There is a good reason "Greenland" is called what it is.  Vicking colonied, at least for a while on the island.  Seems there was, at least for while, a climate warm up during part of the Middle Ages.

3.  Then there was a period of time, I think around 1500-1600, where there was a climate cool down, called the "Little Ice Age".

World climate seems to go in cycles.  Too bad we did not have the equipment to record the climate changes.  But the human race should be careful so that we do not change things so that if there is a switch, the plant can't naturally switch back.

Also, because the sun is so big, it takes 50 years for material to cycle in the star.  I believe there is a parallel with solar weather with that of the late 1950's.

We need to take our nation back from Liberalism (which has been identified as a mental disorder), starting with the legal system, congress, then our public schools, and to change the way bonds are issued.

In any government, there must be a quorum; in a like manner, we need to change the law to where >50% of voters must cast a ballot, and if not the bond issue fails for lack of a voter quorum.

Make it retroactive to block METREAUX from squandering Billions on wasteful urban rail, and playing Monopoly, and expecting our future generations to pay for this ill-devised scheme.

"WE" Roykeaux?  You may want to start speaking for yourself or name names in your _______ cause.  Just a thought.

"Make it retroactive to block METREAUX from squandering Billions on wasteful urban rail, and playing Monopoly, and expecting our future generations to pay for this ill-devised scheme."

ROTFLMAO!!!  That's so funny, I forgot to laugh.  This is not some fantasy land episode here, dude.  This is the real world so get with the program because things will not always go your way.  If it does, then a whole new METRO administration is in order.  HA!

Royko--

The problem isn't science; it's geography.

Here's a more realistic version of your experiment: before filling your Pyrex measuring cup, put something in it--say, a can of peas that reaches above the 2-cup mark--and stack ice cubes on top of the can. Then fill the measuring cup with water to the 2-cup mark and wait for the ice to melt. You'll find that the water level rises as the melting ice runs off into it.

My point is, your measuring-cup analogy doesn't account for the fact that 90% of the world's ice isn't floating in the ocean; it's sitting on land in Antarctica, where it forms a mile-thick ice sheet more than 5 million square miles in area. Were that ice to melt, it would run off INTO the ocean and raise its level (by 60 meters, according to some estimates).

Count me as another person who doesn't actually believe in global warming. My geology professor told me as much when I was in college.

1. The earth does go through a warming and cooling cycle. We're just lucky enough to have the technology to notice.

2. Earth's orbit is not consistent, nor is it circular. (It's more of an oval/ellipse.) That 93 million miles is just an average. As we move closer and further from the sun, our temperatures change. The closer we are, the warmer we are. The farther we are, the cooler we are. We all learned this in 8th grade, remember?

Mr. Palmer,

I too want whirled peas!

If you could invent a really good recipe for them, maybe you could win some sort of peas prize.

Actually. if the sea levels went up THAT much, what would happen to P&R Rider's avian friends?

In the question of "Global Warming", there are really THREE questions:

1.  Is it happening?

2.  If it is, is human activity adding to it?

3.  If the activity is, then by how much?

This sounds like the the same arguements posed in 1977, when Buffalo NY was buried by snow.  People were saying great ice sheets would reach Houston by this time.

So,

Is it happenning?:  Likely.

Is human activity adding to it?:  Yes

Then, by how much?:  Not 100%!  (Sun getting hotter, changes in orbit....)

But the atmosphere could be compared to a cesspool:  if you keep adding manure to it, it can come back and bite you.

Examples:  London and Pittsburg both had air so bad that the local polution and weather combined to produce a lethal cloud which covered each for days and killed many.

You can't blame GW for the 1900 Storm, the Texas drought and heavy hurrican season of the 1950's through Hurricane Carla.

Yet, do we really know what long term effects of clar cutting the Amazon rain forest will be, for example.  Some say, because of the heat and humidity, which causes rapid decay, the area banaces out O2-CO2 production.  But now you have a more rapid water run-off.  And no jungle to absorb the solar heat.

Maybe this old addage is right:  You cannot fool with Mothr Nature.

Second train of thought:

Thrid woulod counties are now moving from walking and bicycle transit to cars.

What in the future will that do to:

1.  The Climate.

2.  Price of oil.  Eco 101--If more people want an item, and there is only so much of item, the price goes up.

3.  Peoples' health:  More weight, more sickness from non-exercise.

The realy worry I have is NOT GW.

It is this:  We are importing oil from a country in South America whose message sounds a lot like Castro's?  And wants to send that message around South America and worldwide.  And we are sending $$$ to this country?  If it was not for oil, that country would be embargoed.

There are others:  Some in the Middle East.  Even NAFTA parter MEXICO.  In saome parts of the country, drug trading groups ARE the government, really.  And they don't want outside investment to make PEMEX a better producer?  

And, can we afford to EXPORT billions of dollars a day for oil?  FOREVER!

Houston, we have PROBLEMS........

Good point, Dominic.

Just for the heck of it, I found a website that lists the top 15 countries from which the US imports oil, as well as the average amount of oil (in thousands of barrels) that we import PER DAY from each of those countries:

CANADA 1,863

SAUDI ARABIA 1,541

MEXICO 1,220

NIGERIA 1,097

VENEZUELA 980

IRAQ 697

ANGOLA 429

ALGERIA 264

ECUADOR 217

BRAZIL 175

KUWAIT 225

COLOMBIA 169

RUSSIA 68

CHAD 103

UNITED KINGDOM 80

As you can see, while there are several "good apples" on this list, there are also several countries that are not terribly stable or that are not known for their pro-US sentiment. (That's why I don't buy gas at Citgo anymore.) We've got to cut way back on the sauce.

Steve P:

Your figures look sound.  Sounds like that location on the DOE website which has such figures.

Just add up the millions bbl/day times price of a bbl, and that would give a good figure how much it costs to import per day.

Citgo:  NO WAY!

I am puzzled that no one has challenged the premise in this blog as to global warming.  First, the weather man can't even predict the weather for the next day accurately let alone know what the world will be like years from now.

Greenland was once farmed and occupied and if it is again, life will indeed go on.

As to Houston though, and our transit planning for dire Gore-like predictions, let's simply say that Gore is right and we will be flooding more than ever.

Then, WHY?, is Metro designing at grade rail lines that CANNOY operate in 4" of water?

If the blog story is something Metro considers to be factual and not sensational, then they need to immediately abandon the entire at grade trolley car desing and go with fully grade separated mass transit.

My bet is they will not and we will continue on a path that does not provide 'rapid' mass transit.

Don G,

They can not operate in standing water in excess of THREE inches deep!

That's when they call in the buses, to rescue the hapless tram victims.

Royko said:

"They can not operate in standing water in excess of THREE inches deep!"

I knew that Tom but I tend to be sure to go for a safety factor due to pro light rail advocates.

Another TRULY eye opener hit us persoanlly just 30 minutes ago.

Our daughter is coming home Sunday and will be working as an intern at the Harris County Forensic Lab close to Fannin and OST.

ALL (wish I could underscore here!!) bus routes that are available for her to take DEMAND that she use the rail line.

The Metro schedule allows two minutes for the transfer at Wheeler from the bus.  The trolleys operate at 6 minute spacings.  

I told my wide that the proposed scheduling by Metro's online service can be thrown out because she may have to wait up to 6 minutes, not 2 minutes.

The force feeding to the trams adds MORE delays and simply allows for Metro to add more riders to thier head count and claim success when, in fact, they have increased the delays and transfers for users.

But on the trams and the claimed global warming, Metro shows no proof of believing in it as they only plan for at grade snail rail routes.

Don G said:  

"ALL (wish I could underscore here!!) bus routes that are available for her to take DEMAND that she use the rail line."

-------------

There's nothing new about that.  A couple of P&Rs go as far as the corner of the Memorial Hermann prof. building, and the 8 goes down Main, but if you work anywhere near the Medical Center, you have to take the rail.

On the plus side, with the traffic congestion the way it is in the Medical Center, it's probably better without the buses.

If I were your daughter, I would assume the bus will be late from time to time and to always take the bus before the one she thinks will work.  That way, if there's a problem, there's another bus that will get her there on time.

I don't even look at the rail schedule, but it seems like sometimes it's running more often than every 6 minutes.

In the rain:

1.  I think there is a level by which buses cannot go.

2.  The south end of the North HOV can close because of flooding on Buffalo Bayou!

DominicMazoch,

The difference is an HOV lane and individual buses vs the total interruption of our 1/2-Billion Dollar Glorious Utopian "TRANSIT BACKBONE" Tram, at-grade, which can not ford storm water deeper than THREE inches, and tethered to a sparking wire.

Actually, NO person, car, bus, tram or whatever should be traveling when there is that type of water in the ROW.  How can you see what is on the road/tracks?  Is it still there?  Also braking goes out the window.  Guess it is easy on conventional transmission.

It is possible for a bus to detour, provided it is SAFE to do so.  I've been on the 108 on a flood detour at that point.  Major disruption.

Speaking of electric motors, what is the limits of water on the roadway with a hybird bus?  They have electric motors for transmission, which really don't like water.

Houston has so far behind concering storm water control that it will NEVER cath up.  Maybe some of the citizens in Galveston before the Great Storm were right in calling Houston "a mudhole".

Actually, NO person, car, bus, tram or whatever should be traveling when there is that type of water in the ROW.  How can you see what is on the road/tracks?  Is it still there?  Also braking goes out the window.  Guess it is easy on conventional transmission.

It is possible for a bus to detour, provided it is SAFE to do so.  I've been on the 108 on a flood detour at that point.  Major disruption.

Speaking of electric motors, what is the limits of water on the roadway with a hybird bus?  They have electric motors for transmission, which really don't like water.

Houston has so far behind concering storm water control that it will NEVER cath up.  Maybe some of the citizens in Galveston before the Great Storm were right in calling Houston "a mudhole".

2 posts the same?  Lose current on this end?  

Dum-dum---errrr----Royko:

Do you possibly think a bus can survive any flood waters?  PLEASE explain---if you dare.  What if there was more than three inches?  How about---10+ inches?  Think about it!

Let me up the ante, if you don't mind.  How about---let's say---15+ inches?

Mr. CoLLins,

If there is 15+ inches of flood water, most folks will launch a boat.

I am talking about typical storm water accummulation in most Houston streets which often exceeds THREE inches, and does interrupt the Glorious Utopian Tram service; whereupon, METREAUX always dispatches BUSES to rescue the hapless tram passengers.

Uh-huh---yeah---but what if the buses and the people on them need help themselves, hmmmmm?  F.Y.I., I'm talking about Tropical Storm Allison-like weather.  I'm not too concerned about any "major downpour."  You may want to let the HFD handle the "rescue" part.  At least they're fully trained to handle that job.  Furthermore, you would need a lot of BIG boats or at least any "high-profile" vehicles just to rescue a bunch of people at one time.  Surely, even you should know that.

Mr. CoLLins,

With all due respect, the HPD has no jurisdiction.  Please be advised that if you are in trouble HPD will likely not get involved.  You will be directed to contact MPD.  Go ask Chief Tom Lambert at the next chat, he will set you straight on the turf war.

DUM-DUM!  NOT ONCE DID I EVER SAY "HPD=>Houston POLICE Department."  LEARN HOW TO READ WHAT I SAID BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENTS TO ME, GOT THAT?!  Maybe I should just stop using abbreviations here (at least to you) because you may give me a repeat performance.

HFD=>Houston FIRE Department.

Learn it!