A Convenient Movie

Tonight I finally got around to seeing the Al Gore masterpiece, An Inconvenient Truth. This movie was stunningly excellent in a morbid kind of way. Gore takes the complicated and controversial topic of global warming and presents it in an understandable, engaging, articulate, and altogether indisputable way (and shows some terrific photographs). He makes it abundantly clear throughout the movie that any reference to the "theory" of global warming as "not fully scientifically proven" is as manufactured an argument as the identical argument against evolution. Perhaps most interesting were his statistics about the gap between scientific consensus and the media's portrayal of a controversy: of the over 900 scientific articles published in peer reviewed journals regarding global warming, 0% presented evidence against global warming. However, of the hundreds of media reports that mention the phrase "global warming," 53% refer to controversy among the scientific community. This should serve as a strong wake up call to staunch conservatives (like Ann Coulter) who bitch and moan about the "liberal media." 53% of the media is acting in a decidedly un-liberal (and untrue) manner, wouldn't you say?

Watching this movie brought back fond memories of 2000, when Al Gore was elected president and the biggest national concern of the day was Congressman Gary Condit and the disappearance of his intern, Chandra Levy. Gore is intelligent, articulate, comedic (not the Bush kind of humor -- Gore actually says things that make others laugh), and forward-thinking. The movie included clips of Gore speaking in foreign countries, and showed the crowds greeting him with the enthusiasm ordinarily reserved for a rock star. One clip even showed an entire Chinese audience of college-aged students wearing headphones to hear the translated speech on global warming. Can you imagine George W. Bush receiving this kind of reverence from any audience outside of the red states of America? The entire movie reminded me of a campaign speech, and I am pleading to the gods that Al Gore decides to make another presidential run. Americans will surely realize their grave mistake of electing W. to a 2-termer... won't they?

JLo: Morning arrival -- subject to border formalities and inevitable delays (I've never heard a travel guide sound so dismal!) -- in Outer Mongolia. A country of unspoilt natural beauty, Mongolia is a popular stop on the Trans-Siberian. On arrival, transfer to centre, before a drive to nearby Terelj National Park for a 2 night stay, where outdoor pursuits such as horse riding (optional cost), hiking, and rock climbing are available. Home on the steppe, is a Mongolian ger (a sturdy wood and felt type tent). Lunch, dinner and overnight (2) -- ger camp.

Music of the Moment: "Leaving Jesusland" by NOFX