The story that caught my attention this week is actually something I didn’t cover last week: the national freak-out over three university presidents testifying to a congressional committee about their schools’ policies related to antisemitism. The clip that the media noticed is a three-and-a-half minute grilling the presidents got from Elise Stefanik, but it sits in the middle of a five-and-a-half-hour hearing. It turns out that there’s quite a bit to know that didn’t make most of the network coverage.
I had suspected last week that there was something to think about here, but didn’t come to that conclusion until it was too late to do the research. Worried that whatever I said would turn out to be wrong, I left the story to this week. So anyway, “Those University Presidents” should appear around 10 or so EST.
The weekly summary also has a lot to cover: the COP28 climate agreement, Rudy Giuliani’s $148 million loss in court, Kate Cox’s abortion story, and a few other things, leading up to a quantum explanation of Santa Claus. I’m hoping to get that out by noon.
And I should tell you one more thing: I’ve decided not to put out a Sift on the next two Mondays, which are Christmas and New Years. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken more than one week off, but I’ve noticed myself wearing down lately, and I anticipate 2024 requiring me to be at my best.
The Weekly Sift 
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Happy Holidays!
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COP 28
Orbital Forcing of Subtropical Climate
The Earth’s axial rotation is perturbed by gravitational interactions with the moon and the more massive planets that together induce periodic changes in the Earth’s orbit, including a 100,000 year cycle in the shape of the orbit (eccentricity), a 41,000 year cycle in the tilt of the Earth’s axis (obliquity) and a 20,000-year cycle in the “wobble” — much like a top wobbles — of the Earth’s axis (precession). All three of orbital cycles — called Milankovitch cycles — impact African climate on long geologic timescales, but the cycle with the most influence on the rains in Africa is the “wobble” cycle, precession. The main climatic effect of precession is to shift the season when the Earth has its closest pass to the Sun (perihelion) — the so-called precession of the equinoxes. Today, perihelion occurs in northern hemisphere winter but at 10,000 years ago (half of a precession cycle) it occurred in northern hemisphere summer, and summer radiation over North Africa was about 7% higher than it is today (Berger, 1988; Kutzbach, 1981)
It is now generally accepted that the Sahara was green 12,000 to 5,000 years ago and that the sea floor volcanic heat emissions impact the melting of the glaciers them impacting the Guif stream like during the Antarctic Cold reversal 14,500 to 13,000 BP causing the massive floods and tsunamis we can expect again 2100 when Polaris changes for Vega.
This – not fossil fuels or cow farts is changing our climate like the political Cop 28 implies
Milankovitch are nothing new.
Just 3 observations while I’m enjoying my morning coffee.
1) We know the sun’s output and it’s diverged from the observed temperature record over the past few decades https://skepticalscience.com/solar-activity-sunspots-global-warming.htm
2) We’ve measured a significant change in atmospheric concentrations and the aborbtion spectrum has changed enough that the US military had to tweak the sensors on it’s sidewinder missiles.
3) also the C14 share in the atmosphere has gone down, and since C14 is continually replenished in the upper atmosphere, that means it has to come from a long dormant source: Fossel Fuels
The marked increase in the global average temperature is a comparatively recent phenomena, and coincides directly with the industrial age and the massive increase in the burning of fossil fuels. Denying this, which is the overwhelming (98%+) consensus of climate scientists – you know, actual experts unlike yourself – makes you either a lobbyist from the oil & gas industry or an excellent example of certain people’s psychological need to deny reality.
You push this narrative on an almost weekly basis, apparently unaware that it in no way contradicts the well-established science regarding the the various warming effects of extracting and burning fossil fuels. It’s not a binary choice; even if your assertions have an incredibly long-term effect, the same way El Nino has an incredibly short-term effect, the fact remains the overwhelmingly primary cause of the massive increase in global temps over the past 150 years is extracting and burning dead dinosaurs.
But here’s the great thing about science: it doesn’t care what you believe. It is one of the follies of man to fail to appreciate this, and instead continue in a fantasy that suspends it so his own psychological needs may be placated.
Thank you for your weekly round-up! I look forward to it with the same anticipation as I do for Heather Cox Richardson! I hope you enjoy your little break and recharge!
Enjoy your time off, although you KNOW something monumental will take place in your absence.
take that time brother… thanks for your sifting
I really look forward to your postings. That said, enjoy your break.
cool, rest when you need to, as you need to. You are a valuable asset and it is up to you to maintain your health, fitness, and elan vital.
Enjoy your holidays! As they say here in Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka a Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!). As you said, 2024 is shaping up to be a beaut. Donna Carsten
Have a nice restful holiday!!
Thank you! You deserve a break. We’ll all be patiently awaiting your return from your short hiatus.
I am honestly worried that something awful is going to happen that will push you to interrupt it!
You definitely deserve a break from putting something out every Monday. Thank you for all that you do. Your column is so well written, and so interesting. Thanks again
👋👍🏼
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Absolutely take a break. I know these never ending news cycles are exhausting for me and I don’t have to write about them.
This is in response to Anonymous who was responding to COP28…….perhaps you can publish a paper comparing and contrasting the validity of the two hypothesis (Atmospheric carbon build up vs orbital forces and how each impact or don’t impact the climate changes being recorded now) and have it peer reviewed by the scientific community. Let’s see if there’s a majority consensus from the scientists one way or the other. No pun intended, but it might save a lot of hot air.
Thank you for your passion, writing, comprehensive and thoughtful sifting of the avalanches of news and misinformation that has become a daily deluge of disorientation and depressing overwhelm. Your Weekly Sift along with Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From An American are my bastions of clarity, humor, and inspiration for my own writing. I’m glad you noticed your need for rest and rejuvenation and are taking winter holidays to meet your organism’s needs with increased care. My gift to you is a hearty thank you for contributing to my sanity as I navigate the waters of news, information, social discourse, politics, and what might help me best contribute to making our world a better place. Wishing you warm, restful, joyous holidays! 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽
Doug, I am a recent reader of your Sift. I love the deep dives you do on specific issues. I want to acknowledge you for deciding not to publish on Christmas and New Years. You set a good example for others of us who maybe overwork. 🤗. Have fun. Look forward to hearing how it was for you to take two weeks off.
And this is from Shirl Morrigan
Good to hear from you, Shirl.
Take care of yourself 🙂
Hope you have a great break. Thank you so much for your continued passion to sift through the events of our times.
I hope your holiday break is wonderful. I read the Sift regularly and look forward to its return in January.