New Zealand: Stonefruit growers have fingers crossed

As stonefruit begins to blossom, Wairarapa growers have their fingers crossed hoping the snow on the Tararuas will melt, reducing the chance of crippling frosts.

"If the snow stays we'll have frost and that kills the blossom as the little buds pop hopefully this rain and the warmer temperatures will get rid of the snow so there's not too many frosts," Taukahiwi Orchard's Lorraine Liggins said.
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"The rain and heavy frosts have been of particular concern and the snow's been hanging around so much for global warming," Mr Liggins, a keen skier, said.

"As an orchardist you're always worried you're biggest bugbear is the weather, that's why stonefruit's expensive."

Mrs Liggins said it is a crucial time for the industry. "If it's not warm the bees don't come out it has to be between around 12 and 14 degrees before they'll come out."

Too many climate realists in Alabama?

What is it about Alabama that we have so many who deny that the actions of humankind contribute significantly to climate change?

Is it our generally poor education system? Is it that the better genetic stock didn't stop here but went farther west? Is it just that we have so many right-wing nutcases that eat, sleep and breathe Rush, Hannity and Boortz to the point that their brains are mush?

The Republican-American BILL DUNN: Proud member of the Idiotic Other Side

Global warming: Anyone who does not agree the earth is warming rapidly and that it's caused by human activity is labeled a "denier." Al Gore said people who do not agree with his apocalyptic, 20-foot-rise-in-sea-level prophecy are just like Holocaust deniers. In other words, they are incredibly stupid or evil.
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Al Gore's predictions about global warming are absurd. I believe in 20 years people will watch Al's award-winning movie in the same way college students today watch "Reefer Madness." That is, with a lot of laughter and incredulity that people were once so gullible and hysterical.