[jules' pics] 11/29/2010 09:09:00 PM

leaves, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

My friends tell me that the leaves in Kyoto are the best for 100 years, and furthermore that some may still be stuck to the trees next week. Perhaps then, at the upcoming PMIP workshop, those studying the climate of the Last Millennium (tree lovers one and all) should better spend their time in gardens than lecture theatres...

These leaves in merely Kamakura.

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/29/2010 09:09:00 PM

[jules' pics] Seeing Red

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/28/2010 07:49:00 PM

[jules' pics] 11/28/2010 02:17:00 AM

Very large Japanese hornet, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

Help help help help help. WTF is this beast doing munching on camellias in late November? Heard incredibly low buzzing noise. Dismissed it as not possibly a hornet at this time of year - and anyway the noise was too low. Then appeared possibly the largest Vespa mandarinia japonica ever. BBbbuuuUUUUuuuzZZZZZZzzzz...

That's a proper sized camellia not a puny daisy....

Help!

[Taken with 300mm telephoto from far faaaar away]

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/28/2010 02:17:00 AM

[jules' pics] Rare delicacy

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/26/2010 03:26:00 PM

[jules' pics] 11/23/2010 09:51:00 PM

Engakuji Kamakura, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

uh - oh. The leaves are turning in Engakuji (Kamakura), which means they are probably out Kyoto too, a fact confirmed by the national leaf nowcast. So they'll all be fallen off the trees by the PMIP workshop which starts in 11 days... So, just in case any PMIP people do look at this blog - here are some consolation leaves.

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/23/2010 09:51:00 PM

Climate Science Rapid Response Team (CSRRT)

A new communication effort has been announced, from the house of Abrahams, Weymann and Mandia (who brought us the Monckton Debuncton).

NAME: Climate Science Rapid Response Team (CSRRT)

WEBSITE: www.climaterapidresponse.org

WHO & WHAT: The CSSRT is a match-making service between top scientists and members of the media and office holders and their staffs from various levels of government. Our group consists of dozens of leading scientists who wish to improve communication about climate change. The group is committed to providing rapid, high-quality information to media and government officials. Our members have expertise in virtually all areas of climate science and they are available to share their current understanding in a fairly rapid time frame.

HOW IT WORKS: Inquirers will use the form on the Website to identify themselves and to send their questions along with the desired timeframe of the response. That information will immediately be sent to three people: Dr. John Abraham, Dr. Ray Weymann, and Prof. Scott Mandia. These three “match-makers” will immediately notify up to three scientists with the most appropriate expertise. One scientist or one of the three CSRRT match-makers will then respond directly to the inquirer with the correct science information.

WHY WE DO IT: There is a sharp divide between what scientists know about climate change and what the public knows. The scientists of the CSSRT understand that better communication can narrow this gap. The media is in the best position to deliver accurate science information to the general public and to our elected leaders but only if they are provided with that information. The CSRRT is committed to delivering that service We are advocates for science education.

Disclaimer: I'm one of them. But I've seen the list and the others really are top scientists :-)

Pop quiz on responses to Wegman plagiarism accusations

Match the quotes to the quotees.

First the quotes:

1 "Actually fairly shocking," "My own preliminary appraisal would be 'guilty as charged.'"

2 "It kind of undermines the credibility of your work criticizing others' integrity when you don't conform to the basic rules of scholarship" "If I was a peer reviewer of this report and I was to observe the paragraphs they have taken, then I would be obligated to report them" "There are a lot of things in the report that rise to the level of inappropriate."

3 "The plagiarism is fairly obvious when you compare things side-by-side"

4 "wild conclusions that have nothing to do with reality."

5 "Let me say that this is one of the most reprehensible attacks on a reputable scientist that I have seen, and the so-called tsunami of accusations made in regards to climategate are nothing in compared to the attack on Wegman." "To see such a respected academic accused in this way (with the accusations so obviously baseless) is absolutely reprehensible."

And in no particular order, their sources:

A. Cornell physicist Paul Ginsparg, developer of the Arxiv (and some anti-plagiarism tools).

B. Judith Curry, Chair, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology.

C. Ohio State's Robert Coleman, who chairs OSU's misconduct committee

D. Virginia Tech plagiarism expert Skip Garner, who heads a copying detection effort.

E. George Mason University statistician Edward Wegman, lead author of the disputed report.



Answers can be found here and here. Note, however, that the problems with Wegman's report go way beyond mere plagiarism.

[jules' pics] 11/18/2010 11:53:00 PM

leaves! on kumotoriyama, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

The leaf season seems to be different every year. This year all the trees seem to be turning together and the non-momiji are very good. Usually trees like the cherry turn brown and the leaves fall quickly to the ground a few weeks before the gingko and momiji turn brilliant yellow and orange. Here at work the main concern is whether there will be anything left on the trees in Kyoto for the PMIP3 workshop in early December,

This photo was taken around 1000m altitude on a walk in the mountains last weekend with Joel, our super-human friend from Oz. James was kind enough to carry my camera and spare lens most of the time, giving me the chance to not getting too far behind but still take some photos.

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/18/2010 11:53:00 PM

[jules' pics] 11/17/2010 09:43:00 PM

Oxo, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

To counteract the chaos of yesterday's pic, a more ordered urban environment [Oxfooooord, England].

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/17/2010 09:43:00 PM

[jules' pics] 11/16/2010 07:56:00 PM

messy tangle, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

The area near work is presently even more attractive than usual, as there are some works underway. Round these parts they drill deeply before erecting a structure of any size, because the ground, reclaimed from the ocean, is so soft. On the other hand the houses appear to have no foundations at all, which is not so encouraging come the earthquake...

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Posted By Blogger to jules' pics at 11/16/2010 07:56:00 PM