T.J. MURR: HOBO NEWS

GLOBAL WARMING

Industrialization, deforestation, and pollution have greatly increased atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all greenhouse gases that help trap heat near Earth's surface.

Humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

• These gases persist in the atmosphere for years, meaning that even if such emissions were eliminated today, it would not immediately stop global warming.

What's Going to Happen?

A follow-up report by the IPCC released in April 2007 warned that global warming could lead to large-scale food and water shortages and have catastrophic effects on wildlife.

• Sea level could rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 to 59 centimeters) by century's end, the IPCC's February 2007 report projects. Rises of just 4 inches (10 centimeters) could flood many South Seas islands and swamp large parts of Southeast Asia.

• Some hundred million people live within 3 feet (1 meter) of mean sea level, and much of the world's population is concentrated in vulnerable coastal cities. In the U.S., Louisiana and Florida are especially at risk.

• Glaciers around the world could melt, causing sea levels to rise while creating water shortages in regions dependent on runoff for fresh water.

• Strong hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and other natural disasters may become commonplace in many parts of the world. The growth of deserts may also cause food shortages in many places.

• More than a million species face extinction from disappearing habitat, changing ecosystems, and acidifying oceans.

• The ocean's circulation system, known as the ocean conveyor belt, could be permanently altered, causing a mini-ice age in Western Europe and other rapid changes.

• At some point in the future, warming could become uncontrollable by creating a so-called positive feedback effect. Rising temperatures could release additional greenhouse gases by unlocking methane in permafrost and undersea deposits, freeing carbon trapped in sea ice, and causing increased evaporation of water.
(NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS, Nov 19th,2008)http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news

Recently I received an e-mail from a reader who asked me what I thought about "global warming."

I think that global warming is an observable, measurable phenomenon. From a hobo's perspective, that is, spending a good deal of time outdoors, I have personally observed that summer and winter have been warmer than I remember them as a child or even a teenager. I actually was aware of the changes in climate before I'd heard the terms "global warming" and "global climate change."

As to the question of whether human activity has caused the climate to warm; I think that this is quite likely although there may be room for an agrument that part of this warming effect is an element of a natural cycle.

Common sense tells me, as a layman, that I cannot pollute earth's atmoshere and get away with it indefinitely. An old prison inmate adage says; "If you play you gotta pay."

Unfortunately, the issue of global warming is being defined by special interest groups instead of the individual human conscience. That global climate change is occurring is not in question for most people. The main points of contention seem to be; what should we do about it and when, and, who will govern our action.

These are questions that can be referred to, as the AA people say, your "higher power" if you have one. In addition, you may rely on your own wisdom to guide you. You can also rely on the corporate "common sense" of the special interest groups focused on the issue of global warming.

I frequently confer with the God of the Bible as my "higher power." He has been the only "spiritual" medium that has taken the time to answer my questions and offer me direction for the road I'm on. I am totally satisfied with His performance to date. I am able to ask Him specific questions in real time and receive real, relevant answers that I can understand. Pretty cool huh?

I gotta go. Till next week, this is the Hobo's perspective. Have a great week.

Economic downturn poses threat to mental health: WHO
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 CBC News

"The added stress of a global economic downturn could lead to a rise in mental health problems, the World Health Organization said Friday.
As some Americans struggle to cope with having their houses repossessed, the market meltdown could deepen despair, the United Nations agency said.
'There is a clear evidence that suicide is linked to financial disasters.'— Benedetto Saraceno
"We should not be surprised or underestimate the turbulence and likely consequences of the current financial crisis," WHO director general Margaret Chan told a meeting of mental health experts in Geneva."

It is probably hard to find anyone who won't be affected by the current crisis in the global ecomomy. So, I read several news articles this weekend about the ecomomy and an increase in suicides worldwide.

I wonder how you, the reader of the Hobo News page is handling all this. There is a positive answer to all this turmoil going on in our world you know. There is a page on this website called "The Secret."
Check it out.

Now about the headline above. Only a fool would not be concerned, to some degree, about the condition of the world ecomomy right now. Realistic concern is important to possess. This kind of healthy concern should cause us to focus on a positive plan of action.

So what does a "hobo" know about a positive plan of action. Just this. I know someone, who has the answers to everything. Now I know this can sound like a simple and naive statement. However, this statement is far from naive and certainly not simple. I am a human and a time traveler on this planet but I don’t possess all the answers; I simply know someone that does.
You may already have someone or thing who satisfies you spiritually. I am sure that you would tell me who that was if you thought the information would help me. Now I am equally certain that you would not begrudge me this opportunity to say a word or two about my spiritual experience. Right? Good.
In short, the name of the person I am talking about is God, and to be more specific, the God of the Bible. This God claims to know everything, be able to do anything, and he claims to own everything. He also claims to be alive. You know of course that the God I am speaking about is most likely the God that all of Christianity claims to serve. However, from what I know about this God, He never intended to be packaged as another religious alternative for man’s amusement. No, in my experience, this God is a living supernatural being and I am fully capable of experiencing His presence on………well, let’s see, what is today? Oh yeah, this is Monday, October 20th, 2008.
So back to the subject at hand. Here I am with a world economy that is crashing around me. So what do I do? Well, number one, I get alone with this God and ask Him what I should do about it. He gives me information that is specific to my circumstances, tells me what to do, and, and this is a big and, He reminds me that He is still in control, and that He will NOT be worrying about anything. This whole experience corrects my perspective on personal issues and world events. The important thing to remember here is that this God wants to reveal himself to you and speak to you too.
I gotta go. If you have any comments or questions about the Hobo News Page, give me a call at 918-360-1020 or send an e-mail to tjmurr@road-showrecords.com